Research and publications

Present research interests

Tool development, qualitative research methodology, Mix-method research, Maternal and child care, Nutrition, Gerontology

Special awards and prizes

• Best oral presentation award at the Public Health and Well-being Conference, 4^th – 5 ^th April 2019 on Development and validation of Maternal Competencies Assessment Tool - Early Infancy (MCAT- EI) - an instrument to assess parenting competencies among Sri Lankan mothers with infants at early infancy.

Workshops / Training attended

• Certificate Course in Professional Development in Higher Education (CCPDHE) was conducted by the staff development center, University of Ruhuna in 2013.
• Certificate Course in Research Methodology in Health and Social Sciences conducted by the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna – from 28th to 30th November, 2013.
• The short course in Academic writing was conducted by National Center for Advanced Studies (NCAS) from May 19 to June 2, 2017.
• Workshop on Research writing at the 1st IPCRG (International Primary care Respiratory Group) South Asian Scientific Conference in Colombo from 3^rd to 5^th August 2017.
• Workshop on Information Resources through the Web: in relation to Medical Sciences organized by the Medical Library and Library Committee, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University Sri Jayewardenepura on 22^nd March 2010.
• Pre-congress workshop on Systematic Review for Medical professionals conducted by Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University in collaboration with School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of South Australia on 1^st August 2017.
• Workshop on Scientific Writing and Publishing Research Work organized by Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) in collaboration with Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University on 28th October 2019.
• Seminar on qualitative research organized by the staff development committee, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura on 12^th October 2017.
• Workshop on qualitative research methodology for health care professionals conducted by Professor Khatijah Lim Abdullah, University of Malaya, Malaysia at the International Nursing Congress 2018 organized by Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya on 7^th April 2018.
• International workshop on qualitative methods for health and social research conducted by Institute for research and development in collaboration with Institute of Public health, University of Cambridge and Keel University, the United Kingdom from 16th to 18th October 2018.
• Workshop on the use of SPSS in Social Research organized by the Faculty of Management and Finance, University of Ruhuna from 27^th July to 13^th September 2016.
• Training program on Computer-Based Data Analysis – Level I, conducted by Department of Decision Sciences, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
• Training program on Computer-Based Data Analysis – Level II, conducted by Department of Decision Science, Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
• Intensive short course on Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis of Data organized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura from 22nd to 24th November 2017.
• Workshop on Structural Equation Modeling (with AMOS) for quantitative research organized by the National Centre for Advanced Studies (NCAS) on 12th and 13th September 2017.
• Workshop on Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary prevention for patients following CABG surgery organized by the Galle Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (GELSO) held at the Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Galle, Sri Lanka on 18^th and 19^th January 2016.
• Seminar on Control and Prevention of Tuberculosis organized by the organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka on 7 th August 2009.
• Seminar and workshop on Women in leadership organized by the US Sri Lanka IVLP Alumni and the US Embassy in Sri Lanka on 8^th February 2011.
• Workshop on Improving student counseling skills of Academics conducted by Medical Education and Staff Development Unit of Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna on 13^th and 14^th November 2017.

Research publications(full paper)

• Karunanayaka, A.D.S.S., Wijesinghe, C.J. and Somasiri, K.G., 2020. Maternal competencies among mothers with infants at early infancy in Sri Lanka; a qualitative evaluation. Galle Medical Journal, 25(2), pp.48–54. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/gmj.v25i2.8023
• Karunanayaka,A.D.S.S., Wijesinghe, C.J., Somasiri, K.G., 2018. Parenting competencies among mothers of infants at early infancy in Sri Lanka: a qualitative study. Proceeding of 6th Annual worldwide nursing conference, 168-169. DOI:10.5176/2315-4330_WNC18.84.
• Dilshika, L.K.M., Bandara, W.V.R.T.D.G., Karunanayaka, A.D.S.S., A Study on Sample Rejection Rates due to Preanalytical Errors: Associated Factors and Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Nurses on Blood Sample Collection for Haematology at a Teaching Hospital in Sri Lanka, Journal of Health Sciences and Innovative Research, 2020;1(1):24-30.

Published abstracts of oral presentations

• Karunanayaka,A.D.S.S., Wijesinghe, C.J., Somasiri, K.G., Development and validation of Maternal Competencies Assessment Tool - Early Infancy ( MCAT- EI) - an instrument to assess parenting competencies among Sri Lankan mothers with infants at early infancy, Public Health and Well-being Conference, 4^th – 5 ^th April 2019.
• Karunanayaka,A.D.S.S., Wijesinghe, C.J., Somasiri, K.G., Factors affecting father’s involvement in infants’ care: A qualitative study in Matara District, Sri Lanka, Proceedings of 2nd research symposiumFaculty of Allied Health Sciences – University of Ruhuna, 52.
• Karunanayaka,A.D.S.S., Wijesinghe, C.J., Somasiri, K.G., Parenting competencies among mothers of infants at early infancy attending maternal and child health (MCH) clinics in Galle District, Sri Lanka, Proceeding of International Conference on Health Sciences2019,136.
• Rathnayaka, RHMPN., Abeygunasekara, TUM., De Silva KKPM., Karunanayaka ADSS., Imendra KG., Utilization pattern of Self Medication Among Allied Health Undergraduates with Focus on Knowledge and Attitudes, 9^th International Research Conference, General Sir John Kothalawala Defense University, Sri Lanka,2016,240.
• Rasangi M.L.P,Somasiri K.G,Karunanayaka A.D.S.S Psychological care domains among institutionalized elders in Sri Lanka: a qualitative study., Ruhuna Journal of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Academic Sessions,2018,31.
• Rasangi M.L.P,Somasiri K.G,Karunanayaka A.D.S.S.,Physical care domains among institutionalized elders in Sri Lanka: a qualitative study, Ruhuna Journal of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Academic Sessions, 2018,35.
• Karunanayaka A.D.S.S., Meegoda KDL, Knowledge and attitude related to tuberculosis among adults in-door patients in Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila,24^th Annual Scientific Sessions, Physiological Society of Sri Lanka, Abstract book, 2011, 9.

Published abstracts of poster presentations

• Karunanayaka,A.D.S.S., Wijesinghe, C.J., Somasiri, K.G., Factors associated with Parenting Competencies among mothers with infants at early infants at early infancy attending maternal and child health (MCH) clinics in Galle District, Sri Lanka, Proceeding of 6th International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approach -2019, 55.
• Dilshika, L.K.M., Bandara, W.V.R.T.D.G., Karunanayaka, A.D.S.S A Study on Sample Rejection Rates due to Pre-analytical Errors: Associated Factors and Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Nurses on Blood Sample Collection for Haematology at a Teaching Hospital in Sri Lanka, Book of Proceedings,The Scientific Session, University of Sri Jayewardenepura,2017,66-67.

Membership of professional associations

• Life Member of the Sri Lanka Association of the Advancement of Science (SLAAS)
• Member of the Young Scientists Forum (YSF), Sri Lanka
• Member of the Graduate Nurses’ Foundation of Sri Lanka (GNFSL)