Clinical Tropical Diseases

Each study describes the problems of organizing the study in a constructive and informative way, and the limitations of the results achieved are offset by the careful analysis of these limitations. The first study---ealled a pilot study-was designed to answer the question: "What does the direct-care psychiatric nurse do, and why does she do it?" The second study was designed to provide Information on the present function and education of the psychiatric nurse In Europe. Neither really answers the questions asked; but each poses some valuable basic material, from which any further studies should certainly emanate. Perhaps the most important single conclusion was the need for a skilled social scientist working at the WHO office, who can plan the various stages of nursing research and direct any nursing research projects. The second study reinforces this need by stating as a conclusion the following question: Thus it seems of the utmost importance that, instead of attacking the problem by asking how many nurses are needed and how many should be trained, some thought be given to what nurses actually do, or should do in the light of medical and technical advances. In regard to psychiatric services, the questions should be raised and decisions taken on whether the nurse's role Is custodial or therapeutic, and whether her work should be extended to domiciliary care. It is only after knowing some of the answers to the above questions that an understanding can be reached of the numbers of nurses needed, and of the desirable content of their training. The Immediate Implication Is that there is a need for studtes in nursing in Europe which could help to curb the tendency to perpetuate several organizational and professional fictions and assumptions a priori, and would contribute to a "real" progress in nursing, which In turn would be reflected in better patient care. . . . This returns us to the question asked by the first study, and the need for coordinated and skilfully directed research.