Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
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Concept analysis: a research method to illuminate the
concept of advocacy
Presenter details
Moyra A Baldwin BSc. (Hons), M.Med.Sci., RN, RCNT., Dip. N.
(London), Cert.Ed., RNT., DANS
Senior Lecturer
School of Health and Social Care
University of Chester
Parkgate Road
Chester CH1 4BJ
Tel: 01244 513385
Fax: 01244 381090
Email: m.baldwin@chester.ac.uk
Background and Context
Advocacy has increasingly appeared in British nursing literature
since its explicit inclusion in the pre-registration nursing programme
in the 1980s. Despite confusion about the nature of advocacy and
the challenges regarding the legitimacy of nurses acting as
advocates, it remains a requirement of contemporary professional
nursing practice.
Concept analysis is a method of enquiry that clarifies the meaning
of concepts and can contribute to a body of knowledge. In providing
a knowledge base for practice it enables understanding. To
illuminate advocacy an eclectic approach to concept analysis was
adopted synthesizing Wilson’s and Walker and Avant’s concept
analysis methods.
Aim of the Study
To determine the defining attributes, antecedents and consequences
of the concept of advocacy.
To develop a model of advocacy.
Methodology
Concept analysis: a research method to illuminate the
concept of advocacy
Concept analysis is a method of enquiry that is capable of increasing
what is known specifically about concepts. It is an enquiry method
that can result in clarification, identification and meaning of words
(Norris 1982, Walker and Avant 1988, 1995). It can be justified as a
research method on the basis that the purpose of research is to
expand a body of knowledge through a process of systematic and
scientific enquiry (Polit and Beck 2006).
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