Knowledge and Attitude on Ethical Conduct of Clinical Research Among Nurses Working in the University Hospital of Nepal

Abstract

Background: Nurses are pivotal in primary healthcare and often serve as the first point of patient contact. Delivering evidence-based care is essential for ensuring high-quality services. Clinical research in hospital settings provides the evidence base that supports such care. This study aimed to assess nurses’ knowledge of clinical research ethics and their attitudes toward conducting research at a university hospital.
Methods: A pretested semi-structured questionnaire, developed from literature and expert input, was used to collect data on demographics, research knowledge, and attitudes toward ethical conduct of clinical research among 279 nurses at the University Hospital. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee, and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test and ANOVA) in SPSS version 26.
Results: Most respondents were aged 26–30 years, held bachelor’s degrees, and lacked formal research training, though over half had prior research experience. Knowledge of clinical research, particularly ethics and trial procedures, was high, and attitudes were largely positive. Misconceptions persisted regarding vulnerable populations, the use of placebos, and blinding. Knowledge and attitude scores were significantly associated with education and research experience, while nearly all nurses acknowledged the necessity of clinical trials (98.9%) and ethical guidelines (93.5%).
Conclusions: Nurses demonstrated strong knowledge of research ethics and positive attitudes toward clinical research, though gaps in specific ethical concepts highlight the need for enhanced formal training to strengthen their confidence and readiness for ethical research engagement.
Keywords: Attitude; clinical research; ethics; knowledge; Nepal; nurses.