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Group Methodology (group + methodology)
Kinds of Group Methodology Selected AbstractsNegotiating nature: exploring discourse through small group researchAREA, Issue 4 2005Andrew McGregor The full potential of discussion groups to further geographic interest in the relationship between discourse, individual and society can still be developed further. This paper briefly reviews previous applications of discussion group methodologies before suggesting a new discourse-centred approach that explores how broad social discourses impact everyday conversations. The approach is demonstrated through a case study involving supporters of environmental movements in Australia. It is concluded that small groups can be used in new ways that provide important methodologically unique insights into the reception of transient, but powerful, discourses upon everyday lives. [source] Being an intensive care nurse related to questions of withholding or withdrawing curative treatmentJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 1 2007Reidun Hov MNSc Aims and objectives., The aim of the study was to acquire a deeper understanding of what it is to be an intensive care nurse in situations related to questions of withholding or withdrawing curative treatment. Background., Nurses in intensive care units regularly face critically ill patients. Some patients do not benefit from the treatment and die after days or months of apparent pain and suffering. A general trend is that withdrawal of treatment in intensive care units is increasing. Physicians are responsible for decisions concerning medical treatment, but as nurses must carry out physicians' decisions, they are involved in the consequences. Design and methods., The research design was qualitative, based on interpretative phenomenology. The study was carried out at an adult intensive care unit in Norway. Data were collected by group interviews inspired by focus group methodology. Fourteen female intensive care nurses participated, divided into two groups. Colaizzi's model was used in the process of analysis. Results., The analysis revealed four main themes which captured the nurses' experiences: loneliness in responsibility, alternation between optimism and pessimism, uncertainty , a constant shadow and professional pride despite little formal influence. The essence of being an intensive care nurse in the care of patients when questions were raised concerning curative treatment or not, was understood as ,being a critical interpreter and a dedicated helper.' Conclusions., The findings underpin the important role of intensive care nurses in providing care and treatment to patients related to questions of withholding or withdrawing curative treatment. Relevance to clinical practice., The findings also show the need for physicians, managers and intensive care nurses themselves to recognize the burdens intensive care nurses carry and to appreciate their knowledge as an important contribution in decision making. [source] How Do Expert Labor Nurses View Their Role?JOURNAL OF OBSTETRIC, GYNECOLOGIC & NEONATAL NURSING, Issue 6 2003Dotti C. James Objective: To examine how expert perinatal nurses in a nurse-managed labor model view their role in caring for mothers during labor and birth. Design: Focus group methodology. Data were analyzed using inductive coding methods to gain understanding from the perspective of those providing the care. Setting: Labor and birth units in four large Midwestern medical centers. Participants: Fifty-four expert labor nurses. Inclusion criteria: 5 years experience in nursing care during labor and birth in institutions where nurse-managed labor was the predominant practice model. Results: Four common themes related to nursing roles were identified. These included knowing the labor process and the intuitive nature of nursing care provided by expert labor nurses based on years of experience, knowing the woman and letting her body guide labor, advocacy for laboring woman, and the autonomous nature of the nurse-managed labor model. Conclusions: Expert labor nurses developed a keen sense of intuitive knowledge based on their years of experience. They reported using hands-on high-touch supportive care techniques with the potential to affect labor and birth outcomes. Autonomy is perceived as a key component of practice within the nurse-managed labor model. [source] Out-of-area placements in Scotland and people with learning disabilities: a preliminary population studyJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 4 2008M. BROWN bsc (hons) msc pgce phd rgn rnld People with learning disabilities have a different pattern of disease from the general population and high health needs that are frequently unidentified and unmet. Many require responses from general and specialist health services. A picture is emerging of some people with learning disabilities, often with complex care needs, moving from their home area on what is being termed, out-of-area placements, to receive specialist care. However, within the learning disability population, limited research has been undertaken and the impact on health services is unknown. Data were collected from health and social care providers to identify people with learning disabilities moving in and out of services across Scotland. Further data about the consequences and impact of out-of-area placements were gathered in one geographical area using focus group methodology. The results suggest that people with learning disabilities are moving in, out and across Scotland, often as a result of breakdown of local care arrangements or because of lack of specialist resources. Planning, service development and effective communication need to be in place to address the needs of this increasing and ageing population. [source] Supplementary prescribing: relationships between nurses and psychiatrists on hospital psychiatric wardsJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2006A. JONES phd bn (hons) rmn The purpose of this study was to explore some of the issues for the implementation of supplementary prescribing for acute hospital care. The study design was the use of focus group methodology. In total, 19 nurses and 7 psychiatrists joined 1 of 6 focus groups held on the psychiatric unit. The data were analyzed using a modified grounded theory technique. In the study to be reported here, nurses and psychiatrists described the potential for different ways of working to emerge on acute psychiatric wards. Two major themes were identified: supplementary prescribing bringing about different ways of influencing decisions and controlling professional work; nurses and psychiatrists developing different types of relationships. Findings suggest an overall positive acceptance for supplementary prescribing, but for greater attention to be placed on the nature of relationships between nurses and psychiatrists. Implications for practice include the impact on new roles for nurses and psychiatrists and how this new form of relationship can best serve patients. [source] ,All singing from the same hymn sheet': Healthcare professionals' perceptions of developing patient education material about the cardiovascular aspects of rheumatoid arthritisMUSCULOSKELETAL CARE, Issue 4 2009Holly John BM BS, MRCP Abstract Objective:,Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Britain, and its prevention is a priority. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have an increased risk of CVD, and management of modifiable classical risk factors requires a programme with patient education at its heart. Before a programme for RA patients is implemented, it is important to explore the perceptions of patients and relevant healthcare professionals and consider how these could influence the subsequent content, timing and delivery of such education. Here, we assess healthcare professionals' perceptions. Methods:,Qualitative focus group methodology was adopted. Four group meetings of healthcare professionals were held using a semi-structured interview schedule. The focus group transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results:,Three superordinate themes emerged: professional determinations about people with RA, including their perceptions about patients' priorities and motivations; communication about CVD risk, including what should be communicated, how, to whom and when; and responsibility for CVD management, referring to patients and the healthcare community. Conclusions:,Although healthcare professionals agree that it is important to convey the increased CVD risk to patients with RA, there is concern they may be less proactive in promoting risk management strategies. There was uncertainty about the best time to discuss CVD with RA patients. Maintaining a close relationship between primary and secondary care was thought to be important, with all healthcare professionals ,singing from the same hymn sheet'. These findings can inform the development of novel education material to fulfil a currently unmet clinical need. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Perceptions of Effective and Ineffective Nurse,Physician Communication in HospitalsNURSING FORUM, Issue 3 2010F. Patrick Robinson PhD PROBLEM., Nurse,physician communication affects patient safety. Such communication has been well studied using a variety of survey and observational methods; however, missing from the literature is an investigation of what constitutes effective and ineffective interprofessional communication from the perspective of the professionals involved. The purpose of this study was to explore nurse and physician perceptions of effective and ineffective communication between the two professions. METHODS., Using focus group methodology, we asked nurses and physicians with at least 5 years' acute care hospital experience to reflect on effective and ineffective interprofessional communication and to provide examples. Three focus groups were held with 6 participants each (total sample 18). Sessions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded into categories of effective and ineffective communication. FINDINGS., The following themes were found. For effective communication: clarity and precision of message that relies on verification, collaborative problem solving, calm and supportive demeanor under stress, maintenance of mutual respect, and authentic understanding of the unique role. For ineffective communication: making someone less than, dependence on electronic systems, and linguistic and cultural barriers. CONCLUSION., These themes may be useful in designing learning activities to promote effective interprofessional communication. [source] Mental health services in schools: A qualitative analysis of challenges to implementation, operation, and sustainabilityPSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS, Issue 4 2005Oliver T. Massey Schools are increasingly recognized as a critical venue for the provision of comprehensive behavioral and mental health services for students. Unfortunately, difficulties associated with operating programs in schools often prevent evidence-based practices from being implemented and sustained as intended. In this study, the experiences of school and community providers who were funded through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative to implement mental health services in a large, urban school district were investigated using a qualitative focus group methodology. Providers identified the major challenges they encountered with implementing, operating, and sustaining their programs as well as the strategies that they used to overcome those challenges. Strategies to enhance support of school-based mental health programs are discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 42: 361,372, 2005. [source] Sovereign Risk in the Classical Gold Standard Era,THE ECONOMIC RECORD, Issue 271 2009PRASANNA GAI This paper reassesses the determinants of sovereign bond yields during the classical gold standard period (1872,1913) using the pooled mean group methodology. We find that, rather than lowering risk premia directly, membership of the gold standard hastened the convergence of sovereign bond spreads to their long-run equilibrium levels. Our results also suggest that investors looked beyond the gold standard to country-specific fundamental factors when pricing and differentiating sovereign risk. [source] Key Aspects of Psychological Change in Residents of a Prison Therapeutic Community: A Focus Group ApproachTHE HOWARD JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, Issue 2 2006SARAH MILLER Residents identified change as a process comprising variability, gradual movement and differential paces. The process was seen to involve self-referential properties, interpersonal facets and challenges. Residents distinguished two significant change events: identifying aspects of the unknown and openness to receive help. Support is given to focus group methodology as a way of offering novel insights into experience of a TC as a process-orientated model of change, taking into account individual aspects and underlying facets of change. [source] A ChemoSensory Questionnaire for Patients Treated for Cancer of the Head and Neck,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 12 2005Andrew N. Goldberg MD, MSCE Abstract Objectives: To investigate primary chemosensory issues experienced by patients who undergo treatment for cancer of the head and neck and to develop and assess a ChemoSensory Questionnaire (CSQ). Design: Cross sectional survey for questionnaire development and testing. Methods: Literature, expert opinion, and focus group methodology were used to identify aspects of smell and taste affecting patients before, during, and after therapy for cancer of the head and neck. A draft instrument was compiled, reviewed, and revised. The revised instrument was administered along with a demographic and clinical form, the SF-12, the Performance Status Survey, and the University of Michigan Head and Neck Quality of Life Questionnaire (HRQOL) to a sample of patients. After item and scale analyses and reductions, a final instrument was assembled. Construct validity and test-retest reliability were assessed. Results: Two hundred six patients were included in the study. The final survey instrument consisted of eight items, four on smell and four on taste. Cronbach's alpha was 0.89 for the smell scale and 0.78 for the taste scale. Correlations with other HRQOL scales ranged from 0.20 to 0.64 for the taste scale and from 0.10 to 0.33 for the smell scale. Good construct validity of the CSQ scores was demonstrated. Conclusions: Treatment for head and neck cancer negatively impacts smell and taste. A survey instrument was developed to evaluate chemosensory function that is simple to administer and is brief. This instrument will be of value in identifying factors that contribute to chemosensory disturbance and may serve as a guide for planning treatment regimens that minimize such disturbance. [source] | |||||||||||||