Methodological challenges in the study of psychological recovery from modern surgery

Mitchell, MJ

Abstract

Most cases of elective surgery in the UK are now undertaken in day-case facilities, and the trend is set to increase. Surgical and anaesthetic health care is changing rapidly. Traditional pre- and post-operative nursing intervention, once commonly taught and practised, must now be re-evaluated as a result of such transformations. However, undertaking research in order to investigate the fresh challenges facing nursing in the modern surgical environment may present many difficulties. Methodological issues, such as the application of research approaches, time for adequate data collection, and the utilisation of patients as participants undergoing modern surgery, will present numerous barriers. In this article, Mark Mitchell identifies and discusses three problematic methodological issues that currently challenge the effective study of psychological recovery from modern surgery in the UK.

Citation

Mitchell, M. (2004). Methodological challenges in the study of psychological recovery from modern surgery. Nurse Researcher, 12(1), 64-77

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2004
• Deposit Date: Aug 9, 2007
• Journal: Nurse Researcher
• Print ISSN: 1351-5578
• Publisher: RCN Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 64-77
• Keywords: Modern surgery, research approaches, data collection, patients as participants
• Publisher URL: http://nurseresearcher.rcnpublishing.co.uk/resources/archive/GetArticleById.asp?ArticleId=5931