Maura Dowling

• PhD MSc BNS RGN RNT
• Associate Professor at Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway

Background Nurses are well positioned to identify the most critical issues in patient care and to determine priorities for investigation. Involving nurses in developing research priorities may increase their engagement in research and enhance the development high-quality nursing practice. Aim This study aimed to scope the potential topics for futu...

Background The COVID-19 pandemic marked a unique period characterised by an extraordinary global virus spread. The collective effort to halt the transmission of the virus led to various public health initiatives, including a variety of COVID-19 vaccine trials. Many of these trials used adaptive methods to address the pandemic’s challenges, such as...

Background The nominal group technique (NGT) allows stakeholders to directly generate items for needs assessment. The objective was to demonstrate the use of NGT to inform the development of a healthcare app in patients with relapsed myeloma. Healthcare professionals with experience in the care of patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma were invi...

Purpose: To investigate psychosocial vulnerability in informal caregivers of chronic haematological cancer patients and determine the level of psychosocial vulnerability among carers of people living with a chronic haematological malignancy (CHM). Methods: An international cross - sectional study including caregivers of individuals with a chronic...

Background & Aims: Changes in taste have been perceived as a common side effect of different cancers and may lead to malnutrition. Hence, the importance of understanding cancer patients' sensory taste perceptions and its impact on nutritional status, quality of life, and oral nutrition supplements (ONS) compliance becomes crucial. Methods: This qua...

Objective The overabundance of health misinformation has undermined people's capacity to make evidence-based, informed choices about their health. Using the Informed Health Choices (IHC) Key Concepts (KCs), we are developing a two-stage education programme, Informed Health Choices-Cancer (IHC-C), to provide those impacted by cancer with the knowled...

Background Cancer treatments have many adverse effects on patient’s health leading to poor cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular- degeneration, fatigue, loss of strength and physical function, altered body-composition, compromised immune-function, peripheral neuropathy, and reduced quality of life (QOL). Exercise programs can significantly increase...

The European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) is a pan-European not for profit society involving approximately 28,000 cancer nurses from 32 countries in the region. The European College of Cancer Nursing (ECCN) exists under the umbrella of EONS and was established in 2020 with a strategic priority to develop, promote and deliver educational opportun...

Despite one in three women experiencing abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetime, intimate partner violence (IPV) is under-reported. Globally, IPV routine enquiry is used as part of healthcare response to addressing IPV. This paper presents the views of pregnant women ( n = 40) and providers ( n = 30) of IPV routine enquiry as part of antenat...

Background Misinformation represents a serious and growing concern for public health and healthcare health; and has attracted much interest from researchers, media, and the public over recent years. Despite increased concern about the impacts of misinformation on health and wellbeing, however, the concept of health misinformation remains underdevel...

Background Seasonal influenza is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite annual recommendations, influenza vaccination uptake rates are disproportionately lower among nurses compared to other health care professionals, especially when compared to physicians. Nurses have an additional risk of exposure to influenza infection...

Aim To systematically synthesize undergraduate student nurses' experience of online, blended or distance learning during Covid‐19 pandemic. Design A qualitative evidence synthesis (QES). Review Methods A QES. Themes were organized using the ‘best fit’ framework approach. Methodological limitations and confidence in the review findings were inform...

Myeloma is an aggressive B-cell malignancy resulting from an uncontrolled production of plasma cells in the bone marrow. A multitude of drugs and combinations of drugs are now approved for use to treat this complex disease and nurses require knowledge and skills in recognising and managing new side effects associated with these treatments. This art...

Background Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is an incurable disease; many people with the condition do not require active treatment and are monitored using a watch and wait approach. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of people living with a diagnosis of CLL and on watch and wait. Methods Using a descriptive qualitative a...

Background: The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic on 11 March 2020. Vaccine development and deployment were swiftly prioritised as a method to manage and control disease spread. The development of an effective vaccine relies on people's participation in randomised trials. Recruitment to vaccine trials is particularly challen...

Background: Cancer treatments have many adverse effects on patient’s health leading to poor cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular- degeneration, fatigue, loss of strength and physical function, altered body-composition, compromised immune-function, peripheral neuropathy, and reduced quality of life (QOL). Exercise programs can significantly increase...

Background: Gatekeepers play a crucial role in successfully recruiting participants to nurse-led qualitative research, particularly in clinical settings. Aim: To present the authors' experience of recruiting and conducting qualitative interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic with the carers of patients who have chronic haematological malignancies...

Breast cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Approximately 30% of those who present with early breast cancer later develop advanced breast cancer (ABC). Additionally, approximately 6% have advanced breast cancer at diagnosis. New treatment options result in an extended lifespan dominated by cycles of deterioration and stable d...

Chronic disease rates are increasing globally, this is partially attributable to the global epidemic of physical inactivity. Physical activity promotion in primary care is regarded as the best approach for combating chronic disease. This study investigated the common beliefs and opinions among general practitioners and nurses on promoting physical...

Purpose: Identifying cancer nursing research priorities is central to influencing the direction of cancer care research. The aim of this rapid review was to explore research priorities identified by oncology nurses for cancer care delivery between 2019 and 2022. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis info...

Objectives: To provide an overview of three consecutive stages involved in the processing of quantitative research data (ie, data management, analysis, and interpretation) with the aid of practical examples to foster enhanced understanding. Data sources: Published scientific articles, research textbooks, and expert advice were used. Conclusion:...

Purpose: People living with a chronic haematological malignancy (CHM) are living longer due to the continued emergence of novel treatments. Their care is mostly delivered in an outpatient setting, and little is known about their experience of this disease trajectory. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore carers' experiences, expressed n...

Abstract Objectives This article provides practical guidance on developing a comprehensible abstract, including those required for funding applications, conferences, and publication. In addition, we discuss and demonstrate the practicalities of editing and revising an abstract for conference or peer review and identify emerging formats that may be...

Chronic disease rates are increasing globally, this is partially attributable to the global epidemic of physical inactivity. Physical activity promotion in primary care is regarded as the best approach for combating chronic disease. This study investigated the common beliefs and opinions among general practitioners and nurses on promoting physical...

Background : Data sharing enables researchers to conduct novel research with previously collected datasets, thus maximising scientific findings and cost effectiveness, and reducing research waste. The value of sharing, even de-identified, quantitative data from clinical trials is well recognised with a moderated access approach recommended. While s...

Background: Specialist nursing care is a core indicator of quality care for people living with advanced breast cancer. However, access to and quality of nurse education programmes in advanced breast cancer is variable. Objectives: This study aims to define the topics for inclusion in an international curriculum for an advanced breast cancer educ...

Objective: To introduce the cancer nurse to qualitative research. Data sources: A search of published literature including articles and books was conducted to inform the article using University libraries (University of Galway and University of Glasgow) and CINAHL, Medline, and Google Scholar databases using broad terms, including qualitative re...

Background/Aims Dementia is a collective term for all conditions that cause damage to the brain. Responsive behaviour is one of the symptoms of dementia trajectory and more than 90% of people with dementia present with responsive behaviour. These behaviours, including aggression and agitation, can adversely affect residents and staff in residential...

Evidence based practice is essential to advanced practice nursing, enabling the delivery of quality care and improved patient outcomes. As the name suggests, it requires healthcare decisions to be based on the best available and current evidence. Advanced practice nurses need astute critical analysis skills to appraise the evolving literature, and...

Background : Misinformation represents a serious and growing concern in public health; and has attracted much interest from researchers, media, and the public over recent years. Despite increased concern about the impacts of misinformation on health and wellbeing, however, the concept of health misinformation remains underdeveloped. In particular,...

Objective: Chronic hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), indolent B-cell lymphomas, and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have seen significant advances in treatment. Treatment developments have resulted in patients living for many years, often between periods of being acutely unwell, relapses, and...

Purpose This study aimed to explore the cancer care experiences of people living with and beyond cancer during COVID-19 in Ireland. Methods The study adopted a longitudinal qualitative design using semi-structured interviews with sixteen participants. Interviews were undertaken on three occasions over six months (January–June 2021). The National C...

Aims and objectives: To systematically identify and synthesise the experiences reported by women with a breast cancer mutation who do not have cancer as reported in qualitative research published between 2013 and 2020. Background: Women carrying a BReast CAncer (BRC) genetic mutation have an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer. They mus...

Background: Few areas of health have been as insidiously influenced by misinformation as cancer. Thus, interventions that can help people impacted by cancer reduce the extent to which they are victims of misinformation are necessary. The Informed Health Choices (IHC) initiative has developed Key Concepts that can be used in the development of inter...

Background Access to comprehensive, integrated, multidisciplinary care is one of the most urgent and actionable recommendations of the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance. However, access to specialist breast care units, and specialist breast cancer nurses is variable, influenced by access to specialist education and role recognition. To date, t...

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common leukaemia worldwide. This article explores the management of CLL with a particular focus on the role of acalabrutinib in managing patients with CLL under NICE guidelines. Acalabrutinib is a potent bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor. Its use requires careful assessment, monitoring and early...

Aim To synthesize qualitative evidence of premenopausal women's experiences of fertility decision‐making with a diagnosis of breast cancer. Background Breast cancer is increasingly more common in premenopausal women who may have not yet considered starting a family or have completed their families. Design Qualitative evidence synthesis guided by...

Aims: To outline and examine evidence related to the meaning of 'psychosocial vulnerability' among caregivers of persons with chronic illnesses. Background: The number of informal caregivers continues to rise globally. Their risk of psychosocial vulnerability is frequently overlooked, but understanding their psychosocial vulnerability may offer...

Background : Data sharing enables researchers to conduct novel research with previously collected data sets, thus maximising scientific findings and cost effectiveness, and reducing research waste. The value of sharing anonymised data from clinical trials is well recognised with a moderated access approach recommended. While substantial challenges...

Background : Data sharing enables researchers to conduct novel research with previously collected data sets, thus maximising scientific findings and cost effectiveness, and reducing research waste. The value of sharing anonymised data from clinical trials is well recognised with a moderated access approach recommended. While substantial challenges...

Background Healthcare services have responded to the challenges of service delivery during COVID-19 with telehealth and hybrid models of care. However, there is limited understanding of the experiences of care among people affected by cancer and how their experiences may change and evolve against the shifting landscape of COVID-19 incidence, mortal...

The data presented here reports on the analysis of open questions on an on-line survey with 2022 international participants related to living with endometriosis and views on a non-hormonal treatment.

The data presented here reports on the analysis of open questions on an on-line survey with 2022 international participants related to living with endometriosis and views on a non-hormonal treatment.

Background: The nominal group technique (NGT) allows stakeholders to directly generate items for needs assessment. The objective was to demonstrate the use of NGT to inform the development of a healthcare app in patients with relapsed myeloma. Healthcare professionals with experience in the care of patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma were inv...

Aim The aim of this qualitative evidence synthesis was to identify and synthesise qualitative research relating to experiences of using mobile health (mHealth) applications to aid self-management of Type 2 Diabetes. Methods Using a systematic search strategy, 11 databases were searched (Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, C...

Objective This literature review provides an overview of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer diagnosis (NMIBC), treatment, and surveillance. Existing evidence is reviewed to identify the NMIBC patient pathway, highlight its effect on quality of life, and identify supportive care needs of this patient group. A framework to guide nurses in the care of...

Background Clinical supervision provides support and facilitates professional and personal development. Aim To identify and synthesise all available qualitative research on palliative care nurses' experiences of clinical supervision. Methods Guided by the ‘enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research’ (ENTREQ) stateme...

Background Preventing seasonal influenza is a public health priority but, although the benefits of vaccinating healthcare workers (HCWs) are emphasised, seasonal influenza vaccine uptake rates remain low. Voluntary vaccination policies have been less successful in achieving high vaccine uptake when compared to mandatory policies and the persistentl...

Introduction: Patients with haematological malignancies may not be receiving appropriate referrals to palliative care and continuing to have treatments in the end stages of their disease. This systematic review of qualitative research aimed to synthesise healthcare professionals' (HCPs) views and experiences of palliative care for adult patients w...

This article describes the development of a digital tool designed to support people with relapsed or refractory MM to monitor and manage side effects and symptoms, and reports the findings of a small pilot evaluation conducted to assess the tool’s usefulness and usability for patients. Findings suggest that the tool could potentially assist people...

Background The process of developing a survey instrument to evaluate women’s experiences of their maternity care is complex given that maternity care encapsulates various contexts, services, professions and professionals across the antenatal, intranatal and postnatal periods. Aim To identify and prioritise items for inclusion in the National Mater...

Aim To identify the barriers and facilitators to seasonal influenza vaccination uptake among nurses. Background Seasonal influenza causes significant mortality and morbidity among older people and high risk groups. Vaccinating nurses against influenza is an essential public health measure to reduce the burden of disease. Yet despite annual recomme...

Background: Striae gravidarum are a common occurrence in pregnancy and many women use a topical product to prevent their development or lessen their appearance if they do develop. There is a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of many of the products used by women. This study arose from challenges in recruitment to a pilot randomised trial (ISRC...

Nurse referrers of medical ionising radiation (X-ray) are educated to refer appropriately. One particular cohort of patients who warrant special consideration regarding the risks associated with X-ray are individuals of childbearing age. In the context of advanced nurse practitioner practice in urology, these patients attend for removal of ureteric...

Aims: To synthesise the available body of qualitative studies relating to clinical research nurses' experiences of their role. Methods: A systematic search of the literature in five databases was undertaken: CINAHL, Medline, Embase, Pubmed, Proquest. Thomas and Harden's three-stage approach to thematic analysis was followed using the ENTREQ stat...

Background: Despite many countries employing the use of national and large scale regional surveys to explore women's experiences of their maternity care, with the results informing national maternity policy and practice, the concept itself is ambiguous and ill-defined having not been subject of a structured concept development endeavour. Aim: Th...

Purpose: Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality in women with hormone receptor (HR+) breast cancer. Despite the documented survival benefits with AET, non-adherence and non-persistence remains a significant problem. This systematic review of qualitative research aimed to synthesise...

Aims: To synthesise the available body of qualitative evidence relating to nurses' perceptions and experiences of care provision in adult critical care environments. Methods: The study adhered to ENTREQ (Confidence in Evidence of Reviews of Qualitative Research) guidelines. See Supplemental File 1. A systematic search of the literature in nine d...

Background The translation of research into clinical practice is a key component of evidence-informed decision making. We implemented a multi-component dissemination and implementation strategy for healthcare professionals (HCPs) called Evidence Rounds. We report the findings of focus groups and interviews with HCPs to explore their perceptions of...

Background Evidence-informed practice is fundamental to the delivery of high quality health care. Delays and gaps in the translation of research into practice can impact negatively on patient care. Previous studies have reported that problems facing health care professionals such as information overload, underdeveloped critical appraisal skills, la...

This pilot study aimed to ascertain if bone pain induced by granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFs) can be alleviated or eliminated by oral antihistamine loratadine. Twelve patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy were included in the study. Daily pain increased between before treatment started and after cycle 1 in all patients. All 12 p...

Problem identification: Adherence to oral chemotherapy is influenced by many factors. This qualitative evidence synthesis aimed to contribute to an interpretive understanding of the factors that act as facilitators or barriers to adherence among people with cancer taking lifelong, noncurative oral chemotherapy. Literature search: A systematic se...

Aims and objectives This study aimed to describe how nurses use the Early Warning Score (EWS) in an acute medical ward, their compliance with the EWS and explore their views and experiences of the EWS. Background EWS systems have been implemented in response to upward trends in mortality rates. Nurses play a central role in the use of EWS systems....

Background Over the past four decades, there has been a growing focus on the resolution of conceptual problems through the process of concept development. As the focus on this area has grown, so too has the number of debates in the literature on methodological aspects of concept development. Aim To provide an overview of the essential methodologic...

Increasing evidence points to the role of vitamin D supplementation in cancer management. A comprehensive search of online databases was undertaken for all research studies relating to vitamin D supplementation in cancer survivorship published up to November 2017. Eighteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for this review, the ma...

Aims and Objectives The aim of this study was to explore lymphoma survivors’ experiences on their end of treatment and follow‐up care at a large urban haematology centre in Ireland. Methods This was a qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews with lymphoma patients post treatment (n=14). Thematic analysis guided the analysis of interview...

Background: The nominal group technique (NGT) allows stakeholders to directly generate items for needs assessment. The objective was to demonstrate the use of NGT to inform the development of a healthcare app in patients with relapsed myeloma. Healthcare professionals with experience in the care of patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma were inv...

Purpose: The aim of this study was to synthesise all qualitative evidence on the experiences of myeloma patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Method: A systematic search strategy was developed and a rigorous search of the literature was undertaken searching six databases (CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Psych Info, Ethos and P...

Background It is widely reported that carers who provide care for a family member with dementia endure physical and psychological burdens. Not only do they fulfil an important role for the person with dementia but also for the wider society. This study aims to explore the experiences of carers who provide end-of-life care for a person with late-sta...

Background: Kuhn's ( 1962 ) acknowledgement of a paradigm as a way that scientists make sense of their world and its reality gave recognition to the idea of 'paradigm shift'. This shift exposes the transience of paradigm development shaped by societal and scientific evolution. This ongoing evolutionary development provides the researcher with many...

What are the quality of life (QoL) and information needs of long-term prostate cancer survivors? Numbers of prostate cancer survivors are increasing and it is vital that their QoL issues and information needs are understood. The long-term effects of surviving prostate cancer is poorly understood. Specialist nurses play a key role in their managemen...

Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to explore which symptoms relapsed myeloma patients experience and what self-care strategies were used. Methods: This was a qualitative study utilising focus group interviews (n=4) with relapsed myeloma patients (n=15) and carers (n=9). The focus groups were analysed and guided by thematic analysis....

Pressure injuries in the neonatal unit can cause infection, unnecessary pain and have the potential for scarring. However there is a dearth of information available on this topic. Preventative strategies to address pressure injury development are essential when caring for vulnerable neonatal patients. This article highlights the issues regarding ne...

This pilot study explored the effects of a mindfulness meditation intervention on nurses’ perceived stress and compassion. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was used. Nurses (n = 90) working at three university teaching hospitals completed the Perceived Stress Scale and Compassion Scale at the beginning of the training and 64 completed...

This longitudinal study describes the effects of recovery-based training on staff knowledge and attitudes to recovery. Mental health staff (n = 101) completed the study questionnaire (the Recovery Knowledge Inventory (RKI-20) and Recovery Attitudes' Questionnaire (RAQ-16)) before training and after six months. On the RKI, significant changes betwee...

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the concerns of postmenopausal breast cancer patients in Ireland and inform the development of a survivorship care plan. Method: A qualitative participatory approach was used. Focus group interviews (n = 6) with 51 women were undertaken. Following analysis of the focus group discussions, two nominal...