Experimental basic research in nursing

Abstract

Experimental basic researches in vitro (cellular or molecular model) and in vivo (animal model) are the foundation for designing clinical researches (involving human beings), which minimizes the risks to the human life. In vitro and in vivo assays are key tools for developing new medicinal drugs, diagnostic techniques and procedures that involve the use of cutting-edge technology, among other applications for the advancement of health sciences and nursing, as well as the conduction of these bioassays favors the targeting of hypotheses established in the clinical phase of the research.

Experimental basic research laboratories have contributed significantly in the development of human resources, both in the undergraduate degree, through the scientific initiation, and in the stricto sensu post-graduation degree. The experimental basic research in the international nursing scope, mainly, when using animal models, has been employed on a relatively increasing form, since this type of research is able to bring about actual changes in everyday practice. In Brazil, this trend has been observed as decreasing, from the 60s to the current days. The experimentation relies on basic disciplines such as biology, physiology, genetics, microbiology, chemistry, physics, etc., which features having its roots in the biomedical model.

As this health care model is falling into decay, added to the desire to provide the scientific legitimacy within the context of the Brazilian Nursing, the body of researchers sought to pursue its own pathway, which resulted in the detachment from the medical field, by cultivating other models of the scientific development process, such as exploratory, social, historical and theoretical research with a focus on the psychology and in the sociology, which do not require an experimental support or a basic substantiation.

From this viewpoint, the experimental basic research has not been adopted by Brazilian Nursing’s researchers in the same proportion as it is conducted in the United States of America, where it has been increasingly used by nursing’s researchers to investigate clinical problems and approaches in mode of caring of the American citizens.

The participation of the Brazilian Nursing in the experimental basic research has been a gap, in which researchers who work in this field recognize the importance of interdisciplinarity for the technological innovation in our country, as this is a strategy capable to involve numerous specificities from different areas, here, mainly, the one related to natural products/medicinal plants/phytotherapeutic products, since it encompasses the botanical anthropology, botany, agronomy, phytochemistry, pharmacology/pharmacy, medicine, nursing, among others. In Brazil, nursing’s researchers need to roll up their sleeves with determination and dexterity to occupy their place within interdisciplinary staffs and research groups accredited by the CNPq, which deal with experimental basic researches.