The Livedqualitative Research : Critique . Experience of Having a Chronic Wound

“It isn’t fair. I’ve worked so hard all my life, I don’t deserve this,” thought Mrs. Ross as she looked down at her right leg where a large wound gaped open. Two weeks ago, she had a femoral-popliteal bypass, which got infected. The wound was opened up and was healing slowly by secondary intention. It was painful, raw, and frightening. She put a hand on her chest and raised the head of the bed higher so she could catch her breath and stare out the window.

Phenomenological research is the research method driving this study. The study is based on the patients who received the care describing their “lived experienced” (Burns, & Grove, 2009, p. 54). The focus of phenomenological research is showing that each individual patient

To ensure the proposed study is academically, professionally, and ethically sound, researchers shall complete a risk assessment on the proposed method (participants, materials and design) of the study. This risk assessment will form the basis of the application to Swinburne University’s Research Ethics Office for ethical review. This application will address the risks identified with the participants used, including recruitment and informed consent, as well as data and publication arrangements.

The research ethics, especially with the human subjects, is a very complex topic, and the completion of the certification opened my eyes on many aspects of research process. I learned how important it is to fully understand the research purpose and the methodology especially when selecting participants. I learned which populations are considered vulnerable, how to balance risk and potential benefits of research, and the importance of obtaining an informed, voluntary consent. I learned how important it is for researchers to ensure subjects confidentiality and privacy. Hardicre (2014) said that the research would be impossible without volunteers, and that the researchers “must act as patient advocates to ensure that every stage of the research

Our study will comply with standard ethical research procedures. We will obtain informed consent from our participants before they participate in our study. Our potential participants will be fully informed about what will happen during our study; in addition, they will understand the effects that our study will have on them and our research (Grinnell, Unrau, and Williams, 2014). We will not use bribery, deception, threats, or any other forms of coercion in order to gain participants for our study. The physical/emotional safety of the participants will come before the research; therefore, we will adhere to all ethical research procedures.

This study will not be anonymous as it requires us to collect names for the purpose of completing this research. For the purpose of this study, information will remain confidential. To ensure confidentiality, Non-involving persons or agencies will not have access to information collected to ensure confidentiality.

The first couple of paragraphs include an explanation of what is considered a complex wound and the current available treatments. It is beneficial that the authors include an explanation of what the problem is so that the reader can have a better understanding of why this issue is of concern. The paragraphs then transition towards the types of treatments available for the problem and a description of why the current treatments are not sufficient for restorative care.

The potential participant must be given the opportunity to give full consideration regarding the decision whether or not to participate in the research study without undue influence from his or her physician, family, or the scientific investigator. No informed consent may contain any exculpatory language by which the participant waives any legal rights or releases the investigator or sponsor from

Each participant was presented a consent form electronically, and confidentiality was maintained throughout the process. (See Appendix A.) Steps taken to ensure the confidentiality of the respondents included assigning an alias name or number to each respondent requesting such, presenting the consent form that explained to participants that they had been selected to participate in the study, and minimizing “off the record” conversations. The only identification of individual interview data in reports was by subjects’ MASSP

The Belmont Report establishes ethical standards for researchers seeking to involve human subjects (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1979). Among these standards is respect for persons- the right of people to be treated as autonomous agents (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1979). Privacy, anonymity, and confidentiality (PAC) fall under this standard (Farrimond, 2013). In research studies, privacy refers to an expectation that access to participants ' information will be limited to those that have a legitimate right to it (Farrimond, 2013). It is also expected that reasonable steps will be taken to prevent unauthorized access to the information. To expand on privacy, most studies allow anonymity- the removal of names and other identifying information (addresses, job titles, age) to protect the identities of participants (Farrimond, 2013). Anonymity increases the likelihood that potential subjects will agree to participate in a study, as they feel more comfortable disclosing information that may otherwise result in negative consequences (Farrimond, 2013). Confidentiality ensures study participants that their information will not be shared beyond the scope of the study (Farrimond, 2013).

The participants’ right to privacy was protected and during data collection, analysis, and reporting, confidentiality of the research data was maintained. All the information recorded on the participants was in agreement with the HIPAA Privacy Rules. The study received permission to use the participant’s information by “institutional review boards at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System” (Li et al., 2015, p. 288). The study does not indicate if the participants were selected in a fair way. They were, however, treated in a fair way and all participants were held to the same sample criteria. No discomfort or harm was inflicted on the participants while the study was taking

As any other clinical research study different ethical issues could arise while conducting my practicum experience. Providing an effective informed consent process is an important ethical aspect that will be thoroughly managed during research design and while recruiting the 150 participants. Respect for potential and enrolled subjects is another topic that will be considered to avoid having ethical problems that will prevent for this to happen. The risk-benefit ratio will also be studied for this to be favorable for the participants.

She looked pale, lethargic, and dishevlled sitting in her wheelchair. The pungent odor from her 2 week old gauge was beginning to fill the room. It was clear she was suffering from a medical condition which was being poorly managed. Omar Staples,PA-C removed the bandages and the once fluid filled lesions had burst open and the contents were permeating the gauge causing a decaying odor. This patient was suffering from cutaneous complications due to poor management of her diabetes. Watching Omar talk to her while he was changing her bandages allowed me to observe why patients felt more relaxed and comfortable about sharing their health care concerns with him. I felt a deep sense of empathy for this patient that I had felt before as an undergraduate volunteering with the 'Adopt-a-grand person ' program. As project coordinator I worked to alleviate the loneliness among senior citizens in various nursing homes within New Orleans through games, arts & crafts, and friendly conversation.

The following is presented as a patient for this particular case study: an 89-year-old male with a stage III decubitus ulcer on his coccyx being transferred to a long-term care facility. The physician has asked that the patient and wife be educated about wound healing. Secondary intention healing will be applied with negative pressure wound healing to advance the ulcer to a level of healing with the knowledge that the diagnosis of a stage III ulcer cannot be reversed to a lesser stage. Three factors that will be discussed to avoid will be lying on the affected area, moisture to the area, and factors that contribute to infection. Included in the teaching will be the importance of proper nutrition, such as increasing protein intake

There are many populations that are vulnerable in a research study including: pregnant women, fetuses, neonates, children, elderly, prisoners, veterans, racial minorities, mentally or physically handicapped, and educationally or economically disadvantaged. Respect, beneficence, and justice help nurses, doctors, and parents decide on the right course of action for neonates. It’s important to weigh the risk versus benefit to each study. There will be special considerations for obtaining informed consent because the subjects involved cannot give it themselves. For neonates informed consent comes from the parents and also includes strict guidelines from Health and Human Services.