Mesothelioma: are nurses being put at risk in the workplace?
The cancer, caused by asbestos, could affect more staff than statistics suggest
02 Nov 2020
Peter Allmark
Older people’s experiences of cancer pain: a qualitative study
Aim To consider how the older person constructs the experience of cancer pain and how this is informed by expectations and experiences. Method Nine older people with cancer were asked to keep diaries and subsequently interviewed about their experiences of living with cancer and pain. Findings Five themes were identified – better to be old than to be dying with cancer, maintaining control and independence, loss of identity in adapting and grieving for a former self, dislike of analgesia and denial of pain. The themes give a perspective on the embodied meaning of ‘pain’ in daily life. Conclusion Clinical pain assessment alone, without listening to people’s pain stories, does not always identify pain or problems with daily living. Appreciation of the individuality of the lived experience of cancer can advance our understanding of pain and end of life care.
30 Jun 2017
A practical guide to attaining research ethics approval in the UK
This article examines the permissions and approvals required for nurses and other health professionals to conduct research in the NHS in the UK today. A fictitious example of a research study conducted by a nurse who did not obtain NHS research ethics committee (REC) approval is provided. The current position regarding the REC approval process, including the role of ethics in research governance, is explored. The differences between research, audit and service evaluation are explained. Finally, the main ethical issues to be addressed in an application for REC approval are summarised.
25 Feb 2009
The ethics of research with children
In this article, the focus of which is research with children, Peter Allmark considers ethical issues in relation to both quantitative and qualitative research. Guidelines on the ethical conduct of research with children focus primarily on issues to do with quantitative research (e.g. RCPCH 2000). For this reason, this article tries to draw out points of particular importance to qualitative research. It begins with some assumptions and points of terminology, before briefly describing the history of the development of ethical regulation. It then discusses specific ethical issues that arise when researching with children. These are placed into three main categories: scientific validity, welfare, and rights and dignity.
01 Jan 2003