MONIQUE MAVRONICOLAS

RESEARCH PROTOCOL

A Question of Quality:
What impact do Nurse Practitioners have in Primary Health Care
in the UK?

1. Introduction
This study aims to access Nurse Practitioners perceptions of their impact on
primary health care and how their contribution to the health service industry
influences the quality of patient care.
2. Research Aims and Outcomes
The study will take the form of empirical research. Due to the constraints of
the size of this small qualitative study, the sample group of interviewees will provide
data which will be limited to the perceptions of these interviewees.
The aim of this research study is to assess Nurse Practitioners perceptions of
primary health care in the United Kingdom with a view to their contribution to the
health service industry and whether in their view, this has any impact on the quality
of service delivery in patient care. These aims will be operationalised by means of
the following specific objectives:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

to identify whether the Nurse Practitioner can provide the equivalent

quality of care to doctors within primary health care in the UK
to identify the perceptions of what impact their role as health care
providers has on primary health care in the UK
to identify and examine the challenges which Nurse Practitioners
face regarding service delivery in patient care
to identify the impact Nurse Practitioners have on the Practice they
work within
a. patient numbers
b. financial implications

From examining the data generated by this research, it is hoped that the outcome of
this study will shed light on possible gaps in the public health services.

3. Empirical Research Design

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This research will be based on 5 to 8 semi-structured questionnaires with nurse

practitioners and practise managers, to be identified through a selected GP Practise
professional network. The questionnaires will be emailed to the practise manager
and will be conducted as an anonyms serve and data will be collected via post.
In addition to primary data obtained from questionnaires, secondary data will
be sourced from a literature study and other internet resources. The majority of the
literature used in this study will be retrieved from research findings, government
agencies, trade associations and other organizations that have conducted studies on
the same subject area. In addition, peer-reviewed journals such as JSTOR,
Academic Search Premier and Business Source Premier, will be helpful in exploring
the topic under study. The technique employed in finding these journals, studies and
information will include using key search criteria associated with the topic in the
recognized websites and databases.
Please see attached Questionnaire
4. Selection of survey Participants
Nurse Practitioners perceptions of primary health care in the United Kingdom
with a view to their contribution to the health service industry and whether in their
view, this has any impact on the quality of service delivery in patient care.
5. Ethical Considerations
The structured questionnaires allow individuals to disclose
thoughts and feelings which are clearly private. This method relies on the
objectivity of the reader. These qualities are valuable, but ethically very
sensitive.
Participants will therefore be required to sign consent at the end of each
questionnaire in addition to this the introduction of the survey will explain that:

Should the study participant choose to withdraw from the study, they may
choose to do so without providing a reason.
The identities of the participants will remain anonymous and not be disclosed
in the study and that their words will also be used anonymously.

Sharing of the data afterwards with the wider research community

Care will be given in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998), where
participants in this study will be asked if they are willing for their information to be
archived and availed for future research.

6. Time Frame of Study

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Key milestones and submission date

In terms of the time frame of the study, it should be taken into consideration
that qualitative research interviews are both time consuming and resource intensive.
Between work and family, research and study time is extremely limited for me.
However, my schedule will open up in the ensuing few months ahead and this should
allow for intensive study in terms of independent research, interviewing and the
extrapolation of data collected. I have already established contact with a few
potential interviewees I intend using in the study and have conducted preliminary
dialogue. Therefore, should the interview template be approved, I can utilise the New
Year leading up to the 20th of January, in order to conclude the interviews.
Below, a proposed research timetable:
Task

05 -20
January

20 31
January

01 15
February

15 28
February

4
March

Interviews completed
Literature Review & Research
methods chapters
Findings & Discussion
chapter
Introduction (any revision
needed) & Conclusion
chapters
Production of the first draft
Submission of final draft
7. Evidence of prior reading
Please see attached documents