A Survey of Routine to Research (R2R) and Research Utilization in Anesthesia Service

Abstract

Introduction:  Doing research about routine patient care, so-called Routine to Research or R2R, can increase both the quantity of articles and quality of care.

Objective:  To determine the number of R2R-related articles by anesthesia providers at the Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, and their utilization.

Study Desizes : descriptive study

Methods:  Questionnaires to the corresponding authors of papers published between 2002 and 2005.  We excluded case reports from the study and focused on basic data of researchers, number of articles that received funding, the number of R2R-related articles and their utilization. The data were analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics.

Results:  All 40 questionnaires were returned, representing 22 anesthesiologists’ articles (55%) and 18 nurse anesthetists’ articles (45%). Eighteen articles (45%) received funding.  Thirty-six articles (90%) were classified as R2R-related articles:  12% have already been applied to routine patient care; 6 had potential for application provided they received suitable encouragement; 10% had less potential for application; and, 8% were non-applicable because of an unavailability of medications or equipment.

Conclusion:  Based on articles published by anesthesia providers at the Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, between 2002 and 2005, R2R-related articles comprised 90%, but only one-third have been applied to routine patient care while another 16.7% (or 15% of all articles) have potential for applications were they to receive suitable encouragement.