To justify the use of focus group interviews with patients and healthcare professionals within a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach inspired by the theory of the French philosopher Paul Gustave Ricoeur.
Methodological guidance and discussion grounded in Ricoeur's theory on narrative, dialogue, threefold mimesis and interpretation.
This phenomenological-hermeneutical approach to focus group interviews yields significant, in-depth understandings of lived experiences from both patients and healthcare professionals.
Ricoeur-inspired phenomenological-hermeneutical focus group interviews with patients and healthcare professionals offer a promising approach for exploring and generating new, valuable insights into the complexities of clinical nursing practice. Thus, this paper argues for an integration of focus group interviews and a phenomenological-hermeneutical approach within nursing science.
The approach has significant implications for nursing practice. By incorporating Ricoeur-inspired dialogue-based collective voices of patients and healthcare professionals in focus group interviews, nursing practices can be refined, leading to improved patient care and more effective clinical interventions. Thus, this approach advocates for a broader adoption of Ricoeur-inspired focus group interviews in nursing research and in health research in general to enhance the understanding and development of clinical models.
No available EQUATOR guidelines were applicable to this methodological paper, as no new data were created or analysed.
As this is a methodological paper, no new patient or public contributions are included.
Parastomal hernia or bulging is a long-recognised complication in relation to a stoma. Around half of patients develop a parastomal bulge and up to 75% experience symptoms. Only a minority is offered surgical treatment; thus, most patients manage the bulge on their own or by interventions provided by stoma care nurses.
To identify and present the available information on nursing interventions for the management of symptoms caused by the parastomal bulge.
This scoping review followed the framework by the Joanna Briggs Institute, conducting searches in 11 databases and through stoma organisations. Literature on nursing management of parastomal bulges was included. Two authors independently screened and selected the studies, with data-charting performed by one author and verified by another. The PAGER framework depicted the state of the evidence and the PRISMA-ScR checklist guided the process.
Of 8361 screened publications, 44 were included. Management of the parastomal bulge and related symptoms were described in eight nursing interventions: appliances, support garments, irrigation and regulation of stool, strangulation, disguise and intimacy, physical activity, support and education, record keeping, follow-up and referral. Most evidence was based on expert opinion with only ⅓ of papers using study designs, such as cross-sectional, qualitative, review, before and after study, Delphi and RCT.
This scoping review highlights the complexity of providing nursing interventions for parastomal bulging. It shows that one intervention can manage multiple symptoms and potentially several symptoms simultaneously, whereas several interventions may be needed to address a single symptom. Therefore, decisions on interventions must be based on the underlying cause of the problem. Due to the limited number of studies on the effects of nursing interventions, more rigorous research is needed in the future.
The results can be used as an inspirational guide for clinical practice.
To explore the practice of mobilisation of conscious and mechanically ventilated patients and the interaction between patients, nurses and physiotherapists.
Long-term consequences of critical illness can be reduced by mobilisation starting in Intensive Care Units, but implementation in clinical practice is presently sparse.
A qualitative study with a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach.
Participant observations in three Intensive Care Units involved twelve conscious mechanically ventilated patients, thirty-one nurses and four physiotherapists. Additionally seven semi-structured patient interviews, respectively at the ward and after discharge and two focus group interviews with healthcare professionals were conducted. The data analysis was inspired by Ricoeur's interpretation theory. The study adhered to the COREQ checklist.
Healthcare professionals performed a balance of support and guidance to promote mobilisation practice. The complexity of ICU mobilisation required a flexible mobility plan. Furthermore, interaction with feedback and humour was found to be ‘a leverage’ for patient's motivation to partake in mobilisation.
The practice of mobilisation found patients striving to cope and healthcare professionals promoting a ‘balanced standing by’ and negotiating the flexible mobility plan to support mobilisation.
The study revealed a need to clarify interprofessional communication to align expectations towards mobilisation of conscious and mechanically ventilated patients.
The study demonstrated the important role of healthcare professionals to perform a stepwise and ‘balanced standing by’ in adequately supporting and challenging the mobilisation of mechanically ventilated patients. Furthermore, a synergy can arise when nurses and physiotherapists use supplementary feedback and humour, and cooperate based on a flexible situation-specific mobility plan in intensive care.