Researching the lived experiences of cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds

Background: Researching the experiences of terminally ill patients with disfiguring wounds is likely to be a challenge anywhere, and this investigation came face-to-face with different attitudes on the part of both patients and nurses and doctors in England (the South-East) and Italy (Tuscany). Aim:...

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Main Authors: Rowan, Sara, Moffatt, Christine, Olden, Anthony
Format: Article
Published: Mark Allen Healthcare 2015
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Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38681/
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author Rowan, Sara
Moffatt, Christine
Olden, Anthony
author_facet Rowan, Sara
Moffatt, Christine
Olden, Anthony
author_sort Rowan, Sara
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Researching the experiences of terminally ill patients with disfiguring wounds is likely to be a challenge anywhere, and this investigation came face-to-face with different attitudes on the part of both patients and nurses and doctors in England (the South-East) and Italy (Tuscany). Aim: To highlight the complexity of researching sensitive subjects and the difficulties encountered from the perspective of the researcher(s). Methods: Fourteen patients were interviewed. In England access was relatively straightforward, with nurses linked to the hospice doing most of the recruitment. Access was more difficult in Italy, with some doctors expressing opposition. Discussion: How ethical is it to treat dying patients as subjects for research? How does research of this kind vary from one culture to another? Conclusions: Interviewees can find it therapeutic to talk about their experiences to a sympathetic listener ― although the listening does pose a considerable strain on the researcher.
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spelling nottingham-386812020-05-04T17:25:24Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38681/ Researching the lived experiences of cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds Rowan, Sara Moffatt, Christine Olden, Anthony Background: Researching the experiences of terminally ill patients with disfiguring wounds is likely to be a challenge anywhere, and this investigation came face-to-face with different attitudes on the part of both patients and nurses and doctors in England (the South-East) and Italy (Tuscany). Aim: To highlight the complexity of researching sensitive subjects and the difficulties encountered from the perspective of the researcher(s). Methods: Fourteen patients were interviewed. In England access was relatively straightforward, with nurses linked to the hospice doing most of the recruitment. Access was more difficult in Italy, with some doctors expressing opposition. Discussion: How ethical is it to treat dying patients as subjects for research? How does research of this kind vary from one culture to another? Conclusions: Interviewees can find it therapeutic to talk about their experiences to a sympathetic listener ― although the listening does pose a considerable strain on the researcher. Mark Allen Healthcare 2015-12-31 Article PeerReviewed Rowan, Sara, Moffatt, Christine and Olden, Anthony (2015) Researching the lived experiences of cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds. International Journal of Pallative Nursing, 21 (12). pp. 579-585. ISSN 1357-6321 Death and dying Cancer patients Malignant fungating wounds Researching http://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/10.12968/ijpn.2015.21.12.579 doi:10.12968/ijpn.2015.21.12.579 doi:10.12968/ijpn.2015.21.12.579
spellingShingle Death and dying
Cancer patients
Malignant fungating wounds
Researching
Rowan, Sara
Moffatt, Christine
Olden, Anthony
Researching the lived experiences of cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds
title Researching the lived experiences of cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds
title_full Researching the lived experiences of cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds
title_fullStr Researching the lived experiences of cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds
title_full_unstemmed Researching the lived experiences of cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds
title_short Researching the lived experiences of cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds
title_sort researching the lived experiences of cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds
topic Death and dying
Cancer patients
Malignant fungating wounds
Researching
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38681/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38681/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38681/