Methodological challenges encountered in conducting a comparative study of psychiatric nursing education approaches in two African countries: Botswana and Nigeria

Abstract

This article discusses some methodological challenges encountered when conducting a comparative study of psychiatric nursing education approaches adopted in two sub-Saharan African countries [ndash ] Botswana and Nigeria. The article identifies the methodological problems encountered and ways in which these challenges were addressed, including the triangulation of data collection strategies guided by Lewin's force field analysis and utilizing curriculum evaluation checklists. Data collection sources included a self-reporting questionnaire completed by psychiatric nurse educators, focus group discussions with practicing psychiatric nurses, interviews with representatives of the nursing regulatory bodies, and analyses of documents and records related to psychiatric nursing education in the two selected countries. Recommendations are provided for conducting further comparative studies that could enhance the globalization of psychiatric nursing education within the African continent, and possibly across other countries' borders as well.