Aims and objectives
To explore the contribution of clinical nurse specialists in intellectual disability nursing in Ireland.
Background
While clinical nurse specialists exist since the 1940s, they ...have only been a reality in Ireland since 2001. While the role of clinical nurse specialist has developed over the years, it still however is often seen as a complex multifaceted role that causes confusion, frustration and controversy.
Design
A exploratory qualitative approach using focus groups with Irish intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists (n = 31).
Methods
Five focus group interviews were conducted to gather qualitative data to gain insight into the attitudes, perceptions and opinions of the participants. Data were audio‐recorded, transcribed and analysed using Burnard's (Vital Notes for Nurses: Research for Evidence‐Based Practice in Healthcare, 2011, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford) framework. Ethical approval was gained from the researcher's university and access granted by the national council for the professional development of nursing/midwifery in Ireland.
Results
The study highlights that intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists contribute to and support care delivery across a range of areas including client‐focused and family‐centred care, staff support, organisation support, community support and supporting other agencies.
Conclusions
Overall, the study shows the importance of intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists and their contribution across a range of services, care environments and the support they offer to clients/families/staff/multidisciplinary team members and outside agencies.
Relevance to clinical practice
Ireland is in a unique position to develop knowledge regarding specialist care for people with intellectual disability that can be shared and adapted by other healthcare professionals in other countries that do not have specialised intellectual disability nurses.
Focus group interviews part 3: Analysis Doody, Owen; Slevin, Eamonn; Taggart, Laurence
British journal of nursing,
27/2013 Mar 14, Letnik:
22, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The use of focus group interviews as a means of qualitative data collection has gained popularity in health service research in recent years. Despite their popularity, analysing qualitative ...data—particularly focus-group interviews—poses a challenge to most researchers. This article follows the authors' previous articles on; focus group theory, and the preparation and conduct of focus group interviews. Despite the publications on conducting focus groups, little information exists regarding the analysis of data gathered in such groups in health services. The present paper focuses on the concepts and application of data analysis and the use of analysis frameworks. The article aims to assist researchers and provide practical steps for the analysis of focus-group data. Thus, the authors provide a framework for analysing focus group data through identifying data analysis techniques suited for the study of these data.
Aim and objectives
To explore multidisciplinary team members' perspectives of clinical nurse specialists in intellectual disability nursing contribution in Ireland.
Background
While clinical nurse ...specialist roles have advanced over time, they are viewed as multifaceted and complex roles creating confusion. This confusion is reinforced by the absence of studies on multidisciplinary team members' perspectives on the activities of clinical nurse specialists.
Design
A cross‐sectional study of multidisciplinary team members (n = 262). The survey instrument was developed based on the literature and the result of a previous qualitative study and survey of intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists.
Methods
SPSS was used for data analyses and descriptive and inferential statistics. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies was used for reporting, and both a university and service providers granted ethical approval.
Findings
This study highlights that multidisciplinary team members identify the contribution and support that intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists provide across a range of practice areas. Clinical nurse specialists support the care process through supporting clients, staffs, families, organisations, communities and other agencies.
Conclusions
Overall, the study reports and acknowledges the significance and contribution of intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists, across a range of practice areas and the support they provide for all stakeholders within the care process.
Relevance to clinical practice
Clinical nurse specialists are central to the nursing profession as a lead clinical role in practice and play a key role within the multidisciplinary team. Highlighting the work of the clinical nurse specialist creates greater clarity and less role ambiguity/confusion.
All About Me Slevin, Eamonn
Learning disability practice,
05/2018, Letnik:
21, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Sharing information with a child that they have autism is difficult, but it begins a process of parents jointly exploring with their child what such a diagnosis might mean.
Focus groups are used by researchers in the social and behavioural sciences to explore phenomena and are accepted as a legitimate qualitative methodology. The primary goal of focus groups is to use ...interaction data resulting from discussion among participants to increase the depth of the enquiry and reveal aspects of the phenomenon assumed to be otherwise less accessible. This article, the first of three articles on focus groups, examines the nature of focus groups, issues regarding planning focus groups, selecting participants and the size of the groups. This article is aimed at students who are undertaking research modules as part of their academic studies or writing a research proposal as well as at novice researchers who intend to use focus groups as a means of data collection.
Focus group interviews are widely used in health research to explore phenomena and are accepted as a legitimate qualitative methodology. They are used to draw out interaction data from discussions ...among participants; researchers running these groups need to be skilled in interviewing and in managing groups, group dynamics and group discussions. This article follows Doody et al's (2013) article on the theory of focus group research; it addresses the preparation for focus groups relating to the research environment, interview process, duration, participation of group members and the role of the moderator. The article aims to assist researchers to prepare and plan for focus groups and to develop an understanding of them, so information from the groups can be used for academic studies or as part of a research proposal.
People with intellectual disability (ID) are reported as a sedentary population with increased risks of poor health due to an inactive and sedentary lifestyle. As the benefits of physical activity ...are acknowledged, measuring physical activity accurately is important to help identify reasons for low and high physical activity in order to assist and maintain recommended levels for optimal health. This article reports a pilot study undertaken to validate the use of a physical activity monitor (Sensewear Armband) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) as instruments for measuring and exploring physical activity of men with ID. The design was a one-group descriptive study and the data were collected over a 7-day period from 17 men. The Sensewear Armband enabled continuous and long-term measurement of 14 objective physical activity metrics. The IPAQ examined details of physical activity reported over 7 days. Equivalent results were obtained from both the instruments, indicating a positive correlation between the Sensewear Armband and the IPAQ. The results show 50% have low activity levels, and the national recommended physical activity levels have been achieved at a very low active intensity. No sustainable high physical activity intensity levels were recorded. The results confirmed the Sensewear Armband and the IPAQ as a practical means of measuring and understanding physical activity levels in men with ID.
The aim of this study was to identify the contribution of Irish intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists (ID CNSs) to service delivery.
A nonexperimental descriptive design was selected to ...survey ID CNSs presently working in Ireland. The questionnaire was developed based on focus group interviews, available literature, and expert panel views.
Ethical approval and access were granted to all ID CNSs in Ireland. Thirty-two responded (33.68% response rate) from all work areas (voluntary organizations or health service executive) practicing within residential, community, or school services. Respondents were surveyed across a range of areas (demographic details and support to client, staff, family, organization, community, other agencies, and professional development).
Findings identify that ID CNSs are active in all aspects of their roles as clinical specialist, educator, communicator, researcher, change agent, and leader, thus supporting person-centered care and improving service delivery.
To meet changing healthcare demands, promote person-centered care, and improve service delivery, the CNS role in ID should be developed and supported. The findings merit a further study on ID CNS role activity, possible variables influencing role activity, and team members' views.
A phenomenological methodology was used to explore the lived experiences of belonging to a self-advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities. Thirteen persons with intellectual ...disabilities who attend three self-advocacy day centre based groups in a city in the west of Ireland were the sample identified for the study. Changes affected by self-advocacy group membership occurred in the day centres the self-advocating participants attended. In addition being a member of a self-advocate group was found to enhance the personal lives of the participants. Empowerment occurred for the participants' both at an individual and collective basis. The evidence produced suggests that opportunities should be provided for adults with an intellectual disability who are not attending day services to join self-advocacy groups in a community setting as there were clear benefits identified in this study from group membership. A recognition that service providers need to take on board the value that can result from self-advocacy groups was apparent. The need to conduct larger scale studies over larger geographical areas and longitudinal research in this area is highlighted.
Background
In keeping with worldwide demographic changes and an ageing population, people with intellectual disabilities are living longer and all the evidence suggest that this trend will continue. ...This ‘new’ population of older people and their carers will pose challenges for health and social care providers.
Aim
This paper presents a review of the literature on key issues influencing caregiving for older people with intellectual disabilities and their ageing family carers.
Methods
The review was undertaken using a framework adapted from the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. Papers were identified through the use of databases including CINAHL, Science Direct, PsychoInfo, Blackwell Synergy, the Cochrane Library and MEDLINE.
Findings
The key themes which emerged from the literature and which consequently form the basis of this review include: ageing family carers, future planning and support services. In the context of family caregiving, older people with intellectual disabilities represent a unique group insofar as they are unlikely to be married and therefore have no spouse or dependents to care for them in later life. As a result, parents (usually mothers) have to continue caring for their son or daughter with an intellectual disability as they both grow older, often resulting in a mutually dependent relationship. The caregiving situation is further complicated by poor emergency and future planning and by a lack of appropriate services for this group of individuals.
Conclusions
In light of the emergence of a ‘new’ population of older people with intellectual disabilities, there is an urgent need to develop services and support structures which will enable these individuals and their ageing carers to x91age in placex92 and when this is no longer possible, to have appropriate alternatives that recognise the duality of their needs as older people and as people with intellectual disabilities.
Implications for Practice
Opportunities for supervision could be one way to increase individuals' awareness of their own role in the team.
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