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
There have been two distinct approaches to gaining knowledge. The
way of pure reason epitomized by Plato and subsequent
philosophers (eg. Descartes) and the way of empiricists who assert
that all ideas originate in sense perception. Whatever way ideas are
gained, concept analysis highlights consistency and coherence of
ideas with the existing body of knowledge and the evidence upon
which those ideas were constructed.
Concept analysis is therefore an intellectual enterprise in the claims
to knowledge by methods of reason or experience. Wilson (1971)
states "concept analysis gives framework and purposiveness to
thinking that might otherwise meander indefinitely and
purposelessly among the vast marshes of intellect and culture" (p.
ix).
The first aspect to concept analysis is to isolate "questions of
concept". Wilson (1971) suggests that a model case of the concept
is a good place to start which is then followed by contrary, related,
borderline and invented cases. According to Wilson, it is important
to examine the social context, underlying anxiety and practical
results and Wilson (1971) completes his technique of analysis with a
stage entitled "results in language". Not all the techniques are
equally useful in all cases and he suggests that taking each stage in
order might be a wise method. An omission from the literature is
the lack of a clear explanation of the method of concept analysis in
action.
An eclectic approach was used to clarify the concept advocacy. Data
sources included nursing, research and scholarly literature focusing
on the interpretation and application of advocacy to British nurses
and nursing practice.
Analysis
Qualitative thematic analysis informed analysis. It involved
organizing data into the categories labelled attributes, antecedents
and consequences. Further analysis produced subcategories
illuminating the concept of advocacy. Three attributes were elicited
from the analysis. Antecedents and consequences were identified.
Attributes, antecedents and consequences combined, form a model
of advocacy.
Findings
Advocacy comprises three essential attributes. These are valuing,
apprising and interceding (Baldwin 2003). The antecedents to
advocacy are vulnerable patients and nurses prepared to take
responsibility for advocating. The consequences of advocating can
be positive and negative for both patient and nurse: freedom and
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