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Qualitative observation in a clinical setting: Challenges at end of life

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Listed:
  • Melissa J. Bloomer
  • Wendy Cross
  • Ruth Endacott
  • Margaret O'Connor
  • Cheryle Moss

Abstract

This paper explores the methodological challenges associated with undertaking qualitative observation in the clinical setting at end of life. The authors reflect on their experiences of using non‐participant observation to explore the nursing care delivered to dying patients in acute hospital wards. The challenges of observation as a method, clearly defining the participant group and involving vulnerable populations, such as the dying patients and their families, will be discussed. Consideration is also given to defining and working within the observational field, the researchers' dual roles, cost versus benefit, impact of culture, religion and ethnicity, and the determination of research limits/boundaries, with reflections from the authors' own experiences used to exemplify the issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Melissa J. Bloomer & Wendy Cross & Ruth Endacott & Margaret O'Connor & Cheryle Moss, 2012. "Qualitative observation in a clinical setting: Challenges at end of life," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(1), pages 25-31, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:nuhsci:v:14:y:2012:i:1:p:25-31
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2011.00653.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leonard, Kenneth & Masatu, Melkiory C., 2006. "Outpatient process quality evaluation and the Hawthorne Effect," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(9), pages 2330-2340, November.
    2. Murphy, Elizabeth & Dingwall, Robert, 2007. "Informed consent, anticipatory regulation and ethnographic practice," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(11), pages 2223-2234, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Melissa J. Bloomer & Maggie Doman & Ruth Endacott, 2013. "How the observed create ethical dilemmas for the observers: Experiences from studies conducted in clinical settings in the UK and Australia," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(4), pages 410-414, December.
    2. Pauline Catherine Gillan & Pamela van der Riet & Sarah Jeong, 2016. "Australian nursing students' stories of end‐of‐life care simulation," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(1), pages 64-69, March.
    3. Tarja Välimäki & Katri Vehviläinen‐Julkunen & Anna‐Maija Pietilä & Anne Koivisto, 2012. "Life orientation in Finnish family caregivers' of persons with Alzheimer's disease: A diary study," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(4), pages 480-487, December.
    4. Tuula Antinaho & Tuula Kivinen & Hannele Turunen & Pirjo Partanen, 2017. "Improving the quality of registered nurses’ working time use data," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(19-20), pages 3031-3043, October.
    5. Meirong Liu & Jae Eun Chung & Jiang Li & Brianna Robinson & Florencia Gonzalez, 2022. "A Case Study of Community—Academic Partnership in Improving the Quality of Life for Asthmatic Urban Minority Children in Low-Income Households," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-13, July.
    6. Sagrario Pérez‐ de la Cruz & Amelia Victoria García‐ Luengo, 2018. "Comparative study among Spanish students of health sciences degrees: Facing death," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(3), pages 380-386, September.

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