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
mediated Nurse-Coached Intervention (NCI) when compared to a
Usual Practice (UP) group, will score:
Significantly higher on the physical functioning, physical role,
mental health, emotional health, emotional role, social functioning,
vitality, and general health scales of the SF-36: and Significantly
lower on the SF-36 Bodily Pain subscale.
In relation to methodology, the instrument was developed for
general health surveys and it has many questions beginning “During
the past four weeks …” Also, it contains many items that are
repetitive of content of the CAPS and POMS. The CAPS and POMS
are administered before the SF-36. Interviewers used reassurance
to help subjects complete this instrument.
There was one between subjects factor with two levels (nurse
coached intervention and control groups), eight within-subjects
factors (8 subscales of the SF-36), each of which has two levels;
Preoperative and one-week postoperative measures. Data analysis
is in progress.
Qualitative data obtained from open-ended questions enriched
understanding of the person’s experience during the surgical and
recovery phases of the ambulatory surgery experience.
Some subjects suggested system changes such as pharmacy hours
for filling postoperative prescriptions but most were very positive
about the overall surgical experience. Many were able to elaborate
upon symptom distress experience during recovery and the means
used to relieve distress. Methodologically, this aspect of the study
was dependent on the quality of documentation by the interviewer.
This aspect requires continuous emphasis and direction for team
members.
The current purpose of the research team is to disseminate the
results of this research and to encourage application of the Nurse-
Coached Intervention with other surgical populations treated in
Ambulatory Surgery. Means used to achieve this purpose thus far
have included mailed results to all subjects who expressed interest,
presentations via illustrated lecture to the entire research team, to
the entire operating suite nursing staff, to institutional review board
members and collaborating physicians. The principal investigator
prepared a poster with names of all research team members for
presentation at these meetings and at professional meetings.
A post-study methodology concern is the inclusion of all team
members as a basic principle for dividing assignments to publication
and presentation opportunities. All are involved in planning
meetings. Some will present overviews of the entire process; others
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