About

Dr Eric Tornu is a Lecturer and the Clinical Coordinator for the Registered General Nursing Programme in the Adult Health Department at the University of Ghana School of Nursing and Midwifery in Accra, Ghana. He is a licensed Registered General Nurse with a PhD in Nursing Science from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, a Master of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Ghana, Legon, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (First Class Honours) from Central University, Ghana, and a Diploma in Registered General Nursing (First Class Honours) from Korle-Bu Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Accra, Ghana. 

Eric has practised as a clinical nurse and preceptor at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Department of Chest Diseases, from 2010 (Staff nurse) to 2018 (Senior Nursing Officer). He has worked as a (1) Nursing Officer at Barnor Hospital, Ghana, (2) a Research Assistant/Field Agent with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Evaluate for Health, and (3) the administrator of the Research Mentorship Alliance (a non-governmental organisation focused on mentoring nurses in research) since July 2017. Additionally, he has served as a project coordinator for the Ghana Nurse Leader Project - Phase II, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and New York University Meyers School of Nursing, USA. He was the Distance Education Anchor for the University of Ghana School of Nursing and Midwifery Adult Health Department from 2019 to 2025.

Eric’s research focuses on Tuberculosis, HIV, chronic disease self-management, clinical guideline development, and evidence synthesis (systematic and scoping reviews) using the GRADE approach. He has ten peer-reviewed publications and reviews for 14 Scopus-indexed journals. He has successfully supervised 25 specialist/graduate research theses and serves as a thesis examiner for the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives. Dr Eric Tornu is a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholar, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and a Fellow of the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives.

Education and Qualification

Jul 2025: Stellenbosch University Consolidated Postdoctoral Fellowship, South Africa.

Dec 2024: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Oct 2024: Fellowship, Infectious Diseases, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives, Ghana.

Jul 2017: Master of Philosophy in Nursing, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana (CGPA: 3.75).

Jul 2014: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (First Class), Central University, Miosto, Ghana.

Oct 2009: Diploma in Registered General Nursing (First Class), Korle-Bu Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Accra, Ghana.

Jul 2004: Mawuli Secondary School, Ho, Ghana.

Research Areas

• Tuberculosis / Human Immunodeficiency Virus (TB-HIV)
• Self-management support
• Guideline development, adaptation, and contextualisation
• Evidence synthesis (systematic and scoping review)
• GRADEing and Evidence-to-Decision frameworks

Research Projects

• Best practice guideline for professional nurses to provide self-management support for adults with TB HIV coinfection (PI)
• Developing a Cultural Context Guideline/Protocol for Advance Care Planning and Bereavement Care Communication in Palliative Care among Older Adults (Co-PI)

Publications

Mohammed, U. F., Tornu, E., & Aziato, L. (2025). Psychosocial Experiences of Adults With Lower Limb Fracture in Ghana: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Patient Experience, 12, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735251400003

Kpolar, O. Y. W., Attafuah, P. Y. A., Tornu, E., Senoo-Dogbey, V. E., & Arhinful, D. K. (2025). Factors influencing health service utilisation among older adults in the Tamale metropolis: a cross-sectional study based on Andersen’s behavioural model. BMC Geriatrics, 25(1), 937. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-025-06651-9

Abu, P., Tornu, E., & Aziato, L. (2024). Exploring post-surgical pain experiences and determinants: A qualitative analysis among Ghanaian abdominal surgery patients. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 20, 100741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2024.100741

Tornu, E., Jordan, P. J., & McCaul, M. (2024). Nurses’ experiences of self-management support for adults with tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection. Health SA Gesondheid, 29(0), 10. https://doi.org/10.4102/HSAG.V29I0.2546

Tornu, E., Jordan, P., & McCaul, M. (2023). Best practice guidelines for professional nurses to provide self-management support to adults with tuberculosis-human immunodeficiency virus coinfection: A scoping review. PLOS ONE, 18(9), e0291529. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291529

Tornu, E., Dzansi, G., Wilson, D. M., Richter, S., & Aziato, L. (2022). Mothers’ perspectives of physical and psychological issues associated with caring for Ghanaian children living with tuberculosis: A qualitative study. Nursing Open. https://doi.org/10.1002/NOP2.1499

Tornu, E., & Quarcoopome, L. (2022). Correlates of quality of life among persons living with tuberculosis: A cross-sectional study. PLOS ONE, 17(11), e0277192. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0277192

Quarcoopome, L., & Tornu, E. (2022). Health-related quality of life of persons living with tuberculosis: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, 28, 100324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jctube.2022.100324

Tornu, E., Dzansi, G., Dartey, A. F., & Lartey, M. (2020). Determinants of student nurses’ self-assessed TB/HIV coinfection care skill-competence in Accra, Ghana. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 13, 100247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2020.100247

Dzansi, G., Tornu, E., & Chipps, J. (2020). Promoters and inhibitors of treatment adherence among HIV/AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Ghana: Narratives from an underserved population. PLOS ONE, 15(3), e0230159. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230159

Newsletter Article

Tornu, E., (2023). Developing a self-management guideline for TB-HIV coinfection in Ghana. Published by Cochrane Africa Network  in the Cochrane Africa Newsletter (full article link).

Courses Taught

NURS 610:Research Seminar I

NURS 613: Quantitative Research Methodology

NURS 615: Advanced Statistics and Data Analysis 

NURS 620: Research Seminar II

NURS 636:Theory Application in Clinical Practice 

MIDW 101: Introduction to Medical Nursing

MIDW 204: Surgical Nursing

MIDW 207: Medical Nursing

MIDW102: Nursing Practical

NURS 122: Nursing Practical

NURS 126: Introduction to Medical Nursing

NURS 231: Principles and Practice of Health Assessment

NURS 234: Surgical Conditions of the Integumentary, Gastrointestinal and Endocrine System

NURS 245: Nursing Practical II

NURS 246: Nursing Practical III

NURS 251: Introduction to Surgical Nursing

NURS 256: General Surgical Nursing

NURS 347: Nursing Informatics

NURS 352: Advanced Clinical Nursing I

NURS 356: Palliative and Elderly Care

NURS 459: Advanced Clinical Nursing II

NURS 459: Advanced Clinical Nursing II

GNUR 402: Orthopaedic and Neurological Medical Nursing

GNUR 406:General Nursing Practical