Meridith Burles

Developing and Piloting an Online Graduate Nursing Course Focused on Experiential Learning of Qualitative Research Methods

Despite the turmoil of a worldwide economic crisis, the health sector remains largely understaffed, and the nursing shortage represents a major issue that jeopardizes graduate nursing education. Access to education remains a challenge, particularly in rural and remote areas. This article reports the process of developing an asynchronous online qualitative research course. This online course was piloted among 16 interdisciplinary students. Participants agreed that experiential learning was useful to understand the intricacies of qualitative research. Within this constructivist approach, students were immersed in real-life experiences, which focused on the development of skills applicable to qualitative research. Based on the findings, we suggest that constructivism and the Four-Component Instructional Design (4C/ID) model (a four-part approach for fostering the development of complex skills) represent valuable ontological and pedagogical approaches that can be used in online courses. Triangulating these two approaches is also congruent with the student-centered philosophy that underpins nursing graduate programs.

A ‘good death’ for all?: examining issues for palliative care in correctional settings

Abstract The notion of dying a ‘good death’ is widespread among many cultures, despite variation in what this actually means. Efforts to facilitate dying well are reflected in palliative care and related movements. However, greater attention is needed with regard to the accessibility of a ‘good death’ in diverse social settings. In particular, we examine the attributes of a ‘good death’ relative to correctional settings to illustrate the tension between the objectives of palliative care and incarceration. Through this critical narrative review of the literature, we identify personal, social and political concerns that influence prisoners’ ability to access a ‘good death’ and health care providers’ potential to contribute to such an outcome. In doing so, we highlight divergence between palliative care theory and practice, and the complex issues faced by dying prisoners and their families, prison officials, health care providers and other members of palliative care teams. We conclude that, while dying well is potentially achievable within the contentious realm of corrections, further efforts are needed to improve access to palliative care and ensure the incarcerated are not denied their right to a ‘good death’.

Cautiously optimistic that today will be another day with my disease under control: understanding women's lived experiences of ovarian cancer.

Background: Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer face a multitude of physical, psychological, and social issues. However, existing research has typically focused on those newly diagnosed with an initial occurrence or recurrence or women with advanced disease. As such, few studies have examined women’s experiences across the illness trajectory and the impact of ovarian cancer on their everyday lives. Objective: This research explores women’s lived experiences of ovarian cancer and how they negotiate and make sense of illness-related issues. Methods: Sixteen women participated in face-to-face interviews and e-mail follow-ups that were informed by hermeneutic and social phenomenological approaches. Results: Five broad themes emerged from data analysis related to changes in health status and the body, disruptions to everyday activities and relationships, uncertainty, and coping and finding meaning in illness. These themes reflect the structures of participants’ experiences and constitute the essence of living with ovarian cancer, “cautious optimism.” Conclusions: This research contributes to our understanding of women’s lived experiences of ovarian cancer across the illness trajectory; specifically, the findings indicate that embodiment and relationships were a central focus for participants as they sought to cope with myriad issues resulting from ovarian cancer. Implications for Practice: Insight into women’s ovarian cancer experiences can help nurses in their provision of care to this population. Furthermore, the findings can inform support interventions for affected women across the illness trajectory, as participants’ experiences show that support needs often persist following treatment as women negotiate survivorship or recurrence.

‘But they’re happening to you at the wrong time’: Exploring young adult women’s reflections on serious illness through photovoice

Although serious illness is often associated with aging, many young adults are affected by various life-threatening and chronic illnesses, and thus have experiences that do not correspond to socio-cultural expectations for young adulthood. In this article, we describe a qualitative study exploring young adult women’s experiences of serious illness. Ten participants diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic illness in the previous three years participated in phenomenological interviews and photovoice project that focused on what it is like to be seriously ill during young adulthood. Our analysis reveals that participants experienced serious illness with respect to their position in the life course; specifically, participants perceived ill health as being inconsistent with young adulthood. This finding is illustrated by three inter-related themes: feeling abnormal and ‘off time,’ realizing vulnerabilities, and renegotiating expectations for young adulthood and the future. We propose that these themes offer evidence of how illness is experienced within the broader socio-cultural context of individuals’ lives. We conclude that social workers involved in supporting this population are well positioned to address life course disruptions brought about by illness and aid in negotiating ill health with respect to expectations for young adulthood.

Negotiating post-research encounters: reflections on learning of participant deaths following a qualitative study

Abstract While some literature addresses the impact of sensitive topic research on qualitative researchers, there is insufficient attention to consequences of researcher–participant engagement occurring after data generation, particularly when studying individuals with life-threatening illnesses. Specifically, researchers can experience post-research encounters with participants directly or indirectly via other people, news media, obituaries or memories. These encounters have the potential to emotionally impact researchers, especially when they involve learning of participant deaths. In this article, I reflect on post-research encounters with participants following qualitative data generation for a study about women with ovarian cancer. Using examples from reflective journaling, I consider the ongoing nature of researcher–participant relationships and my reactions to learning of participant deaths. My purpose in sharing these reflections is to explicate how post-research encounters generated emotional responses that were unanticipated because they occurred after data generation. Subsequently, I identify challenges and benefits that can arise for qualitative researchers studying illness and dying, and propose that preparation for data generation does not adequately prepare researchers for ongoing implications of participant engagement. Although consequences of research relationships and post-research encounters cannot necessarily be pre-emptively managed, access to adequate support and training is imperative to coping with emotional responses for qualitative researchers.

Ethical, Practical, and Methodological Considerations for Unobtrusive Qualitative Research About Personal Narratives Shared on the Internet

As Internet research grows in popularity, attention to the ethics of studying online content is crucial to ensuring ethical diligence and appropriateness. Over recent years, ethical guidelines and recommendations have emerged to advise researchers and institutional review boards on best practices. However, these guidelines are sometimes irrelevant, overly rigid, or lack recognition of the contingent nature of ethical decision-making in qualitative research. Furthermore, varied ethical stances and practices are evident in existing literature. This article explores key ethical issues for qualitative research involving online content, with a focus on the unobtrusive study of personal narratives shared via the Internet. Principles of informed consent and confidentiality are examined in depth alongside practical and methodological considerations for unobtrusive qualitative research. This critical exploration contributes to ongoing discussion of ethical conduct of Internet research and promotes ethically aware yet flexible approaches to online qualitative research and creative methodological efforts to overcoming ethical challenges.

A school curriculum for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: advice from a young adult with FASD

ABSTRACT While a significant number of individuals in Canada and globally are affected by prenatal fetal alcohol exposure, scant research exists that focuses specifically on the subjective experiences of this population. Based on a single case study exploring through Photovoice methodology the life experiences of a young adult with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), this research paper utilises Schwab’s curriculum commonplaces as a framework to present results pertinent to the field of Education. Four themes emerged that illuminate the participants’ resilience and self-awareness of issues related to independence versus support, strengths and challenges, attitude and adaptation strategies, and advice for others. Curriculum suggestions based on the findings are offered for educators working with young people with FASD in general education settings. Further implications for Education and suggestions for additional research are included.

Self-responsibility, fatality, and heroism: a discourse analysis of ovarian cancer in women’s magazines

ABSTRACT Ovarian cancer affects many women globally, having numerous physical and psychosocial implications. However, misconceptions abound, symptoms are often overlooked, and diagnosis frequently occurs in advanced stages. As one step to addressing these issues, this research explores the social construction of ovarian cancer in women’s magazines to identify the ideas and discourses surrounding this illness and interpret their explicit and implicit meanings. A constructivist discourse analytic approach guided analysis of 62 print and online articles from 8 women’s magazines available in Canada over a 20-year period. Analysis resulted in identification of three discourses pertaining to: self-responsibility for health, ovarian cancer as uncertain and inevitably fatal, and ovarian cancer as a heroic endeavour. Critical interpretation highlights misinformation, contradictory beliefs, and unrealistic expectations surrounding this illness, which have implications for healthy and affected women. The findings emphasise the importance of identifying and challenging these discursive constructions to expose inconsistencies, minimise harm to women’s well-being, and promote authentic portrayals of ovarian cancer.