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Biomedical subjects

Maura Dowling

Publications and source records attributed to Maura Dowling.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Ethnomethodology: time for a revisit? A discussion paper.

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of ethnomethodology and explore its usefulness as a methodology for nursing. Ethnomethodology was conceived through the writings of Harold Garfinkel, an American Sociologist in 1967. The influence of phenomenology, sociology and writings of the linguistic philosopher Wittengenstein is evident in this methodology. In the 1970s, it was both heralded by some as a threat to sociology and by others as a welcome development borne out of the dissatisfaction with positivist paradigm research. It is a methodology that has been utilised not only by sociologists but also by many health care disciplines. However, its utilisation by nurse researchers has not been widespread.

Anthropology, Cultural↗
PubMed2006

From Husserl to van Manen. A review of different phenomenological approaches.

This paper traces the development of phenomenology as a philosophy originating from the writings of Husserl to its use in phenomenological research and theory development in nursing. The key issues of phenomenological reduction and bracketing are also discussed as they play a pivotal role in the how phenomenological research studies are approached. What has become to be known as "new" phenomenology is also explored and the key differences between it and "traditional" phenomenology are discussed. van Manen's phenomenology is also considered in light of its contemporary popularity among nurse researchers.

Canada↗
PubMed2004

Hermeneutics: an exploration.

The terms 'hermeneutics' and 'phenomenology' are often used interchangeably in the literature, which can result in confusion for the reader. In this article, Maura Dowling traces the relationship between these two philosophies and explains the various terms used when describing the different schools of phenomenology. The association between positivism and descriptive phenomenology is mapped. The origin of hermeneutics is traced, and the role of Gadamer in developing the work of Heidegger is explored. Gadamer's belief in the importance of pre-understanding or prejudice is found to be central to hermeneutics. Furthermore, the role of the researcher in the hermeneutic circle is explained. Finally, the need for nurse researchers to explore clearly the philosophical underpinnings of hermeneutics is argued.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Exploring the relationship between caring, love and intimacy in nursing.

This article uses the five distinct perspectives on caring proposed by Morse et al (1990) to illustrate the relationship between love, intimacy and caring. Two distinct types of love, namely Agape (altruism/charity) and filia (brother love) are utilized in nursing. Only some caring relationships with patients reach an intimate level, and this is determined by patient characteristics to which the nurse responds. It is concluded that caring as a moral imperative is the most relevant to discussions on caring in nursing and the perspective on which the other four viewpoints hinge.

Affect↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patients' satisfaction with a nurse-led oncology service.

This study reports the findings of a quantitative study determining the satisfaction levels of patients attending a nurse-led oncology day ward. A random sample of 100 patients was surveyed using an adapted version of the Leeds Satisfaction Questionnaire (Hill, 1997) to ascertain the satisfaction levels of patients attending the unit. Satisfaction levels were found to be favorable in general. However, the study did highlight that some aspects of patient information required attention. Moreover, issues with the use of the questionnaire emerged as the inclusion of both positive and negative statements in the Likert-style questionnaire presented contradictory findings.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reducing the likelihood of falls in older people.

BACKGROUND: Falls are a serious health concern for older people and an important issue for nurses. Many factors contribute to the causes of falls. Various combinations of these factors have been incorporated in the fall assessment tools developed so far, but no single tool has been adopted universally. Institutions tend to develop their own assessment tools, which are investigated in these institutions only, and thus have not been independently evaluated for validity and reliability. CONCLUSION: A thorough patient assessment is a vital measure in fall prevention. Nurses, particularly those based in hospitals, have a pivotal role in developing fall prevention strategies, either individually or as part of an interdisciplinary team. Fall prevention strategies have the potential to improve the quality of life for at-risk older patients and their families, as well as provide economic benefits to society.

Accident Prevention↗