ArticleEducationAcademic Service Partnerships: What do we learn from around the globe? A systematic literature review
Section snippets
Methods
This study used a systematic literature review methodology based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (Engberg, 2008; Moher, Liberati, Tetzlaff, & Altman, 2009) to identify and describe characteristics of structured ASPs in nursing. Querying the PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Embase electronic databases yielded 114 papers that met the following inclusion criteria: a publication date between the inception of the database and August 31, 2010; a
Results
Of a total of 544 eligible titles and abstracts, 114 papers describing 119 ASPs were available for analysis (Figure 1). Thirty-five percent qualified as highly structured ASPs, and the remainder (65%) was moderately structured. The earliest described in our review was from 1974, followed by an increase in ASP use after 1991, and a further increase after 2003 (Figure 2). Median duration of their partnerships at time they were described in the literature was 6 years (interquartile range, 2–6;
Discussion
To our knowledge, this is the first systematic literature review to identify structured nurse-driven ASPs worldwide and describe their characteristics. This review is timely because recently published reports on the Future of Nursing in the United Kingdom and the United States (“Front Line Care,” 2010; NRC, 2002) emphasize the importance of creating partnerships at all levels of the health care system, not only with patients and their families but also with consumer groups, other health care
Conclusion
Fueled by policy reports calling for their creation, ASPs have evolved from collaborations primarily supporting nursing education into a myriad of differently aimed endeavors. Found predominantly in the United States, ASPs increasingly are emerging as a promising vehicle to enhance innovation in nursing and health care. On the basis of the available publications, sufficient funding and open communication are the most reported facilitators. However, to gain further insights regarding
Acknowledgment
We thank Chris Shultis, medical editor, for having reviewed our manuscript.
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