Researching continuity of care: can quality of life outcomes be linked to nursing care?
Research that informs nursing interventions across the care continuum is vital, especially with shortened hospital stays. Measuring Quality of Life (QOL) and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) helps identfy health status improvements, but fails to provide insight into the effectiveness of nursing interventions aimed at continuity of care. Four research examples illustrate the need for complementary, qualitative studies of what patients and their families think, feel, need and want. These indicate a need to reconceptualise the research agenda in terms of the complexity and settings of nursing practice, and the need for informational as well as statistical significance.
Research Centre for Clinical Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland.
Anne
A
McMurray
Karen
K
Theobald
Wendy
W
Chaboyer
D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005192:Family Health; D006302:Health Services Research; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards