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Biomedical subjects

Priscilla M Koop

Publications and source records attributed to Priscilla M Koop.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

The bereavement experience following home-based family caregiving for persons with advanced cancer.

The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to explore the experience of bereavement following home-based family caregiving for persons with advanced cancer. The research question addressed by this research was: How do family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer perceive the effects of home-based caregiving on their bereavement? Fifteen caregivers were retrospectively interviewed twice after the death of their family member. Caregivers reported both positive (e.g., feelings of accomplishment, improved family relationships) and negative (e.g., haunting images, feelings of failure) outcomes that they attributed to having cared for their family member. Overall positive outcomes predominated and bereaved family members reported satisfaction with having provided care for their loved one who had died.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

Factors which influence coping: home-based family caregiving of persons with advanced cancer.

The findings from a qualitative study of how caregivers coped while they cared for a dying family member at home are presented. Fifteen family caregivers were interviewed twice following the death of their family member. Although it was not one of the original objectives of the research, coping emerged as a category needing further analysis. There were factors that either facilitated or interfered with caregiver coping. Those factors that facilitated their coping included characteristics of the caregivers themselves; contributions made by the dying person; and supportive networks, both formal and informal, available to the caregivers. Interfering factors related to caregiver experiences with informal and formal systems. From the more distant perspective of post-death reflections, the caregivers provided insight into how their coping was grounded in the meaning associated with their experiences.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

Finding and evaluating potential research instruments.

In this column, I have outlined some of the basic strategies for finding appropriate research instruments and for evaluating them so that you can determine the best one to use for your own research. These strategies, as basic as they are, will help to guide you as you make decisions. Of course, there are complex issues surrounding the development and refinement of research instruments and you would do well to review reliability, validity, and sensitivity in research texts before choosing an instrument.

Data Collection↗
PubMed2002

The experience of respite during home-based family caregiving for persons with advanced cancer.

The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to explore the experience of respite during home-based family caregiving for persons with advanced cancer. Fifteen caregivers were interviewed twice after the death of their family member. Three main themes emerged from the data analysis. First, caring for a dying family member at home is an emotionally intense, exhausting, and singular experience, set in a world apart from everyday life patterns. Second, the caregivers differentiated between cognitive breaks and physical (getting away from) breaks of respite. To achieve a cognitive break and yet remain within the caregiving environment was viewed as important, whereas the physical separation from it was significant only if it contributed in some meaningful way to the caregiving. Third, the meaning of respite is rooted in the desire to bring a measure of quality and normalcy to the life of the dying person. Respite means staying engaged in living life with the dying family member.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Evidence-based practice: implications for the practising oncology nurse.

While the premises of EBP seem highly appropriate on the surface, disquieting questions are raised when one examines the implications for the practising oncology nurse of attempting to implement EBP. There are clinical situations for which no empirical evidence exists on which to base nursing decisions. In some cases, empirical evidence is sparse and based on a mix of small, descriptive studies. Although guidelines exist for examining purely quantitative literature and are being developed for examining purely qualitative literature, no guidelines exist for evaluating a mixture. The process of operationalizing EBP is time-consuming and requires expertise which many oncology nurses lack. Does this mean that EBP is a laudable but impossible enterprise? I don't think so. Nurses will need to incorporate the empirical literature as well as other sources of knowledge to inform their clinical decision-making. In addition, oncology nurses need to apply and adapt models, such as Howell and Pelton's (2001), to make the best use of all sources of knowledge to facilitate excellent patient care.

Canada↗
PubMed2002

Prospective and retrospective research: considerations and questions.

We have outlined some of the reasons why retrospective research is generally considered inferior to prospective research and have explained some of the rationale for this view. Despite the problems, there are ethical and practical reasons for conducting retrospective research. Indeed, we have argued that there are times when retrospective research may produce more valid data. We hope that these ideas will contribute to ongoing discussions about oncology research designs.

Nursing Research↗