CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research design

A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted to investigate the knowledge and

utilization of nursing process by nurses in state hospital Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria using

semi-structured self-administered questionnaire.

3.2 Research settings

The research will be carried out in State Hospital Ijebu-Ode along Omo-Owo street which was

established in 1928 by the colonial masters. It was upgraded to general hospital in 1949 under

the old Western region. It became a specialist hospital in 1976 at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State and

South West Nigeria. The Hospital is driven by four policies; To act as a vehicle for the effective

health care delivery services in Ogun State primary and secondary health care; To provide

preventive, curative and rehabilitative services; To act as a training centre for student Nurses,

Midwives, Pharmacy, Interns, Housing Officers, and students of College Of Health Technology

in Ilese and; To train and retain members of staff on current medical issues..

The health institution has many departments which include: General out-patient department,

accident and emergency, continuing education unit, antenatal clinic, family planning, modular

theater, eye clinic, Iye Subomi Children Care Center (ISCCC), chest clinic and Pepfar (RVD

clinic). The center has about 170 beds capacity averagely with different ward such as male

medical ward, female medical ward, male surgical ward, female surgical ward, maternity ward,
pediatric ward, labor ward, children ward and fuwaji (private) ward including amenities such as

kitchen, patients day room, bathroom, toilet, doctors room, treatment room, Nurses quarters,

CNO’s offices, side rooms, and the open ward.

Apart from the wards, the institution like the other state hospital is expected to carry out training

of medical and nursing students. The hospital management is headed by the Chief Medical

Director Dr. Banjo Adetola and Head of the Nursing Dept. Is ADNS Talabi Akeem O.

3.3 Target population

The target population consists of Nurses presently working at State Hospital Ijebu-Ode.

3.4 Sampling (size and formula)

Sample size will be calculated using number of Nurses presently in state Hospital ijebu-ode,

Ogun State. The estimated number of Nurses in state Hospital ijebu-ode is 89, the sample will be

determined using Taro Yamane formula as follow;

n = N/ [1 + (Ne2)].

where, n=sample size, N=total population, e=0.05 (constant) (Yamane, 1967).

n = 89/[1 + (89 * (0.05²)]

n = 89 / [1 + (89 * 0.0025]

n = 89 / [1 + 0.2225]

n = 89 / 1.2225
n = 72.8 approx. 73

A non response rate of 10% (7.3) will be considered.

Therefore, 7.3 will be added to the sample size (73) calculated to make it 80.3 approx. 80

3.5 Sampling technique and inclusion criteria

As at time of data collection, convenient sampling technique is used as its fast, easy and

respondents are readily available. Convenience sampling is a non-probability sampling

method where units are selected for inclusion in the sample because they are the

easiest for the researcher to access.

Inclusion Criteria

Nurses in state Hospital Ijebu-Ode irrespective of religion, age, culture and socio-economic

background.

3.6 Instrument for data collection

Quantitative instrument was used for data collection. This involved the use of semi-structured

self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed using information obtained

from literature on knowledge and utilization of nursing process. The instrument for the study had

five (5) sections: the first section was designed to bring out data on socio-demographics

characteristics of the respondents. The second section was designed to assess the knowledge of

nurses towards the use of nursing process while the third section was meant to assess nurses level of

utilisation of nursing process in state Hospital Ijebu-Ode. The fourth section focused to identify
factors affecting the utilization of nursing process among nurses and fifth section was meant to assess

the advantages of utilizing the nursing process by nurses in state hospital Ijebu-Ode.

3.7 Validity of instrument

For the validity of instrument for data collection, content validity was ensured by ensuring the

theme from the specific objectives form the sub-headings in the section of the instrument apart

from section 1 which focused on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents.

Construct validity was assured by making sure variables in the theoretical framework are

represented in the instrument for this study.

Face validity was also considered and ensured double barrel questions or any ambiguous

questions were not included in the instrument.

Extensive literature reviews were done with simple language and clarity of questions was

ensured. The drafted copy of the proposed instrument undergoes independent review from peers

and experts in the field of Nursing profession and Public Health. Supervisor’s review was used in

fine-tuning the instrument.

3.8 Reliability of instrument

The reliability of the instrument was determined by pre-testing 10% (7.3) among Nurses in

Federal medical center Abeokuta. Copies of the instrument were administered to thirty (30)

respondents. The information gathered was check for errors and completeness. Each of the

questionnaires was given serial number for easy recall and to facilitate entry of the data collected
into the computer software. The data was then subjected to descriptive statistics which was

basically for the frequencies and tables. The overall reliability coefficient which is also called

Cronbach Alpha statistical test was also calculated to be 0.755 and was accepted to be reliable as

this is close to 1. From the responses of the respondents, the instrument was reviewed and

ambiguous questions were removed. Also, questions considered by the respondents not to be

clear were revised.

3.9 Method of data collection

The data were collected by the researcher herself. The Nurses were met in their various ward and

the researcher together with the assistants provides correct and understandable information to

them about the research. This was considered to be essential in order to obtain informed consent

from the participant. The informed consent forms were distributed among the research

participants after they are fully aware about the study. After the questionnaires had been filled by

the respondents, the researcher checked for completeness and errors before leaving the location

of the data collection.

3.10 Method of data analysis

Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM/SPSS) version 21 was used to analyze the data

obtained from the questionnaire. The data collected were carefully entered into the statistical

software and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, and table.

3.11 Ethical consideration

Ethics approval was obtained from the State Hospital Ijebu-Ode. Ethics Review Committee to

ensure the study meets all the principles and national guidelines in research involving human

participants.

Informed Consent: A valid Informed consent was obtained from the study participants through

appended signature on the informed consent form after adequate provision of information.

Confidentiality: All identifiers were removed from the questionnaire and confidentiality was

ensured through protection of data collected from participants.

Voluntariness: Participants was accorded the right to or not to participate in the study without

any consequence. It was made clear to participants that they are under no obligation to

participate in the study.

Beneficence: The study among this population will therefore serve to inform the necessary

stakeholders on how to better equip students with adequate information on periodic medical

checkup and also serve as role models for people in the society.

Non-maleficence: The study did not involve any risk as it does not involve utilization of any

invasive material. No harm came to respondents who chose to participate in the study. Only the

time needed to respond to the questionnaires was required of the participants.

Dissemination of Findings: To ensure study participants are informed about the information

gathered, the result of the findings will be sent to each department in the Faculty of Public Health

to be pasted on the notice board of each department and the study will also published in a notable

journal.
Translation of protocol to the local language: Participant Nurses in State Hospital IjebuOde

and they are literate in English language. The research instrument was not translated into any

local language.