Table 6-1•Selective Sampling of Phenomenological Research Studies Author(s)DateDomainPhenomenon of InterestSampleData GenerationFindings Linton & Farrell2009AdministrationTo explore the percep- tions of ICU nurses regarding nursing leadership in an adult ICU setting Six ICU nurses with a minimum of 5 years experience Individual semistructured interviews using open-ended questions
Five themes emerged from analysis including leading by example, com- munication, ability to think outside the management square, knowing your staff, and stepping up in times of crisis Six essences identified that illus- trated the experience of loneliness, which included emerging conscious- ness, transcending time, misunder- standing, inauthentic mirroring, fragile vital connections, and with- holding truth Rosedale2009PracticeTo describe the expe- rience of loneliness for women more than a year following breast cancer treatment
Purposive sample of 13women, 1to 18 years following breast cancer treatment Ninety-minute open-ended interviews audio taped, and tran- scribed verbatim
Two patterns were identified: incen- tives and barriers encountered by RN–BSN students to obtain an ad- vanced degree in nursing. Themes of incentives included looking for a point in time, looking forward, look- ing inward, others looking at me, looking for support, and looking for a place. Themes of barriers were as follows: not enough time, not enough confidence, not enough recognition, not enough differentia- tion, and not enough basic academic support
Megginson2008AdministrationTo identify the essence of realities of RN–BSN students of reasons for pursuing or not pursuing an advanced degree in nursing Six Caucasian female RN–BSN students
Two focus group interviews with two key ques- tions to guide the group interviews
Four major themes emerged from the interviews including struggling to fit in, feeling not quite human, being dismissed, and refusing to give up Merrill & Grassley2008PracticeThe meaning of women’s experiences as overweight patients in their encounters with health care serv- ices and health care providers
Eight women self-identified as overweight patients
In-depth, audio- recorded inter- views, and transcribed verbatim Ruth-Sahd & Tisdell2007PracticeTo determine the meaning of intuition and how intuition is used by novice nurses in their first year of practice
Sixteen novice nurses employed in a variety of specialty areas with less than 1year of experi- ence as a RN Semistructured, face-to-face, indi- vidual, audio- taped interviews ranging from 90 to 120 minutes in length
Findings were organized into three major sections: prior experience influences the meaning and use of intuition; connections are central to making meaning through intuition; and intuition is facilitated by the dimensions of time, space, and touch (Continued)
Table 6-1•(Continued) Author(s)DateDomainPhenomenon of InterestSampleData GenerationFindings Ruddock & Turner2007EducationTo explore if having an international learning experience as part of a nursing education program promoted cultural sensitivity in nursing students
Six females and one male Danish nursing students enrolled in a diploma or BSN school of nurs- ing who took part in an international exchange program to Jamaica,Malta, Greenland, or Australia In-depth conver- sational interviews, tran- scribed verbatim, the initial ques- tion “What was it like to live and learn in another country?” was followed by probing ques- tions to clarify meanings at- tached to the experience Findings captured three fused hori- zons: experiencing transition from one culture to another, adjusting to cultural differences, and developing cultural sensitivity and growing personally. Findings indicate that RNs find it hard to include cultural dimensions of care at the top of their working agenda Ennis & Gregory2007PracticeNurses perceptions of caring while working on surgical wards
Ten female regis- tered nurses working on surgical units Semistructured interviews, tape- recorded, and transcribed verbatim
Lamentation and loss was the signifi- cant theme identified and the essen- tial structures supporting the theme included lack of time, lack of caring support, tasking, increased acuity, lack of continuity of care, emotional divestment, and not caring for each other. The nurses in the study mourned the loss of caring in modern practice
Illingworth2006EducationTo further under- standing of the con- cept of role models among third-year nursing students A purposive sam- ple of 10 third- year nursing students, 5 males and 5 females, enrolled in a mental-health nursing course One focus group, tape-recorded and transcribed, discussion led by researcher
Central characteristics of the phe- nomenon of role models included having an enabling attitude, respect toward others, sharing practitioner, functional role, and humanism Carpenter & Narsavage2004PracticeThe lived experience of parents caring for a child newly diag- nosed with cystic fi- brosis
Eleven families caring for chil- dren newly diag- nosed with cystic fibrosis One focus group, tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Detailed written narratives from study partici- pants
Three major themes emerged that were fluid in nature. They included falling apart, pulling together, and moving beyond. Subthemes were ev- ident within each of the major themes described. Families reported moving back and forth among the three main areas of adjustment de- pending on the health of the child or other life events that occurred McNeill2004PracticeExperiences of fathers who have a child with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)
22 fathersSemistructured interviews, tape- recorded and transcribed verbatim A substantive theory of a father’s experience of caring for a child with JRA. Fathers were profoundly af- fected, JRA served as a catalyst for meaningful involvement, and a mul- titude of emotions were expressed. Efforts to remain strong for others created high levels of stress
Breast cancer affects all women. Coping with this disease has the poten- tial to differ among women with different cultural values and beliefs. One example of a phenomenological investigation is “Coping with Breast Cancers: A Phenomenological Study by Doumit; Huijer; Kelly; Sagher &
Nassar (2010). This article is critiqued using qualitative guidelines specific to phenomenology and is reprinted at the end of this chapter.
The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutical investigation was to gain a more in-depth understanding of the coping strategies used by Lebanese women with Breast Cancer. The purpose was clearly articulated in the abstract and early in the article. The authors made explicit the importance of the research at the outset of this comprehensive and well-articulated hermeneutical investigation. It is clear to the reader that a potential problem exists that lends itself to a qualitative approach.
Understanding cultural differences that impact coping among Lebanese women has the potential to impact recovery. It is critical to understand these cultural differences in order to provide care that is meaningful and comprehensive.
Doumit and colleagues (2010) emphasized the need for a qualitative research design. “Nursing and medical staff need to have a better under- standing of the individual coping strategies of each woman and its im- pact on the woman’s well being; the creation of informal support groups is indispensable in helping these women cope with their condition” (p. 33).
Through narrative review of published research related to breast cancer and detailed discussion of the need to understand lived experience from the perspective of patients from a different culture, the authors have sup- plied the reader with sound rationale for the research approach as well as the study’s significance. The qualitative approach applied by the authors provides an added and important dimension to understanding the unique and powerful role of the nurse both at the bedside and in the community.
Doumit and colleagues (2010) provide a sound description of the methodological strategies used to conduct the study. The detailed descrip- tion clearly demonstrates how the methodology was followed. For purposes of this investigation the researchers used the phenomenological approach described by Barritt and colleagues (1984). This approach allows descrip- tions of phenomena as experienced in life and aims to offer an understand- ing of the internal meaning of a person’s experience in the world (Barritt, 1984). Although the philosophical underpinnings of phenomenology were not specifically addressed the authors did discuss in detail the method used for this investigation. A second analysis of narratives using a 7-stage hermeneutical process described by Diekelman and Ironside (1998) was conducted. The focus of the second analysis was the coping process. The methodology was appropriate for this hermeneutic study and the method application is clearly articulated by the research.
Ten participants were chosen based on purposeful sampling and satura- tion criteria. The process for selection of participants is clearly articulated by Doumit and colleagues (2010). The authors note that the study was reviewed and approved by an institutional review board. Based on this state- ment, the reader can make the assumption that protection of human subjects was addressed.
Data were generated by interviews held in the participant’s homes after informed consent was obtained. The interviews were audiotaped and tran- scribed verbatim. Field notes were kept during each interview. The inter- views were coded and participants were guaranteed confidentiality through the use of pseudonyms. Tapes were kept in a locked file cabinet. After three years the tapes were to be destroyed. A grand tour questions was used to ini- tiate the interview: “What has it been like for you since you were diagnosed with breast cancer?” (pg. 35). The findings were validated by asking the par- ticipants to review statements, ideas and words reported by the research as being consistent with their experience of coping with breast cancer. The reader can follow the line of thinking of the researchers adding to the authenticity and trustworthiness of the findings.
The findings demonstrate the participants’ realities as they relate to cop- ing with breast cancer and in particular from the culture and tradition known to Lebanese women. Doumit and colleagues (2010) note:
All participants described their journey with the disease process as a nonstop fight against cancer. They also described cancer as a cut in their lives that they had to deal with. Despite the differences in the time since diagnosis, most participants spoke about similar facilitating and hindering factors for coping. Seven main themes and 1 constitutive pattern emerged from the study. Four themes described the participants’ facilitating copying factors with the diagnosis of breast cancer, and 3 themes were considered as hindering factors to coping (Doumit & Colleagues, p. 35, 2010).
The findings of the study are discussed with the context of what is al- ready known about the topic, followed by detailed recommendations for future research. Doumit and colleagues (2010) provide an excellent example of phenomenological research with a second analysis using hermeneutic principles. In particular the authors capture the importance of capturing coping mechanisms with the context of culture and tradition.