Researching the experience of being critically ill: some methodological difficulties.
The experience of being critically ill and being a patient in a critical care unit has attracted considerable research interest in recent years. Evidence of this is apparent in the increasing development of critical care follow-up services in many of our hospitals in the United Kingdom. However, actually conducting research this area can be fraught with difficulties and problems. Research participants may be extremely vulnerable during their recovery, making the methodological considerations crucial, in any study, which aims to explore the experiences of survivors. This paper explores some of the difficulties the researcher can face when researching this area.
Jones
Colin
C
Critical Care, Faculty of Health and Applied Social Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, 79 Tithebarn Street, Liverpool L2 2ER, UK. c.jones2@livjm.ac.uk
Lyons
Christina
C
D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000523:psychology*; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*