Nursing research: ethics, consent and good practice

Ethics in Research in Nursing

Ethics are the rules for behavior in society that discriminate between what is wrong and what is right, and hence distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. The ancient Greek philosophical inquiry into morality is the foundation of ethical action. Research ethics incorporates all conceptions of right and wrong in survey preparation, execution, and reporting. Ethical considerations in research are critical for establishing the study’s validity. Nursing is a sensitive profession in which the majority of research incorporate personalized information. As a result, when nurses conduct or participate in research, they must deal with society and nursing as a science while maintaining validity. Ethical considerations in nursing encompass a variety of aspects from the social and clinical value of the study to scientific validity to informed subject selection. It is important for the researcher to consider the risk benefit ratio, independent review, consent and the privacy of the participants. This paper aims to address important ethical issues regarding research in nursing. The article is majorly focused on the advantages of rehabilitation within the first three days for speech recovery in ischemic stroke patients with aphasia. The ethical issues analyzed are in convergence with the nature of nursing.

Consent and Privacy

Consent is one of the most significant issues in conducting research. Informed consent involves conscious and voluntary agreement by the participants to participate in the study. Ischemic stroke patients participating in the research will be informed of the aim of the investigation and importance in improving health care delivery. Informed consent is one of the ways that ensure the protection of patient’s autonomy (Fouka & Mantzorou, 2011). Informed consent in this particular survey will seek to integrate the rights of the autonomous individuals to the study through assuring the privacy of the participants and confidentiality of the information shared. Informed consent also aims to protect personal liberty and veracity of the patients. Seeking approval will involve informing the participants of any harm or discomforts associated with the study, invasion of privacy and the threat to the dignity and how it can be compensated. Similarly, the participants will be assured of results of the survey as such providing the anticipated benefits of the research.

Social and Clinical Value of Research

Nursing as a profession involves providing care to patients and as such ensuring their well-being. It is important for the research to provide a distinct social and clinical benefit. Determining the benefit of rehabilitation within three days of stroke in ischemic stroke patients will be fundamental in ensuring the provision of these services within the specified time frame. The ethical principle of beneficence insists on the importance of doing good rather than harm (Fouka & Mantzorou, 2011). While beneficence is something difficult to predict when creating a hypothesis especially in qualitative research, it is vital for the researcher to be sensitive to the potential for the harm. In establishing the importance of rehabilitation in speech recovery in stroke patients, it is important for the researcher to avoid any harm to the participants since they are patients that require care. It is significant for the research carried out to indicate potential to have not only clinical advantages but also social benefits. It is important for the researcher to be sensitive to all discomfort including physiological, emotional, social and economic effects of the study to the patients and the society as a whole.

Risk and Benefit Ratio

Regarding the social and clinical value of research, weighing the risk and benefit ratio of the survey is also very important. Conducting research in speech recovery ability in stroke patients concerning the time of rehabilitation will mainly include observations and interviews which should be risk sensitive. The type, degree, and the number of potential hazards examined about the patients’ value systems that rank various types of risks. The research may involve opening up of old wounds which may affect the patients’ comfort. The research aims to prevent unnecessary harm while minimizing the unavoidable adverse effects. The risk benefit ratio of research can only be analyzed through precise identification of the perceived risks and benefits of the survey. While it is positive conclusions from the research will probe health facilities to ensure rehabilitation within the first three days of stroke, it is important to analyze the risks associated with not only the study but also effects of counseling in the period. If the risks conceptualized outweigh the benefits, the research should be revised.

Subject Selection and Details

Regarding revision of the research, the researcher should be keen on subject selection and the details related to the study. Health care delivery is a broad section that requires constant research on the best mechanisms to use to deliver services. Research on the importance of prompt rehabilitation in speech recovery for ischemic stroke patients is important since it will mean the difference between speech and dumbness in a majority of the patients. The aim of the research is achievable. The constraints set by the survey are attainable within the nature and advocacy of nursing.

Independent Review

Independent review, on the other hand, can be considered within the dimensions of debriefing. It is critical for research to provide debriefing at the end of the research including the aim of the study and whether they were achieved. At this particular sector, the researcher should provide reasons for the lack of full disclosure. In the case where participants have faced discomfort during the research, it is vital to the research to debrief them or provide a reference for professional intervention (Bowrey, 2014). Interviewing stroke patients on the importance of receiving counseling promptly may open up the feeling of helplessness. As such, the research will debrief the participants to ascertain their comfort. Independent review of the members is just as important as determining the benefit and risk ratio of research.

Anonymity and Confidentiality

Respect for anonymity and confidentiality is closely related to the concept of informed consent. The participant’s privacy should be upheld during and after the research. Anonymity is protected when the member’s information cannot be connected to personal responses (Fouka & Mantzorou, 2011). In cases where anonymity is impossible, it is important for the researcher to assure the participant of confidentiality. It is crucial for the researchers to protect the identity of the patients involved in the survey. However, in some cases, nurses face a dilemma when confidentiality must be broken to protect the society as a whole for instance for evidence in a court of law. The research will use of pseudonyms and distortion of identifying details in interviewing when transcribing the tapes. The research is sensitive to the social and psychological repercussions of breach of confidentiality in the subjects.

Validity of Research

The validity of each research is crucial since the essence of nursing reflects on human beings and the relationship with health. Research related to health care delivery should be reliable in efforts to provide better health care. The validity of a study refers to the legality of the procedures used including but not limited to informed consent, respect for the subjects, informed subject selection and the benefits of the research. The validity of the research will ensure implementations of the recommendations concerning rehabilitation in ischemic stroke patients. Ethical issues are recurrently emerging in nursing research and as such researcher awareness and effective ways to address these problems are vital. It is necessary for ethics in research to receive attention in the curricula to prepare future nurses and dignity of health care research.

References

Bowrey, S. (2014). Nursing research: ethics, consent and good practice. Nursing Times, 20-23.

Fouka, G., & Mantzorou, M. (2011). What are the major ethical issues in conducting research? Is there conflict between the research ethics and nature of nursing? Health Science Journal.