Abstract
This position paper offers a glimpse review of evidence-based practice in the management of cancer. The case study is based in Korea. Nurses are supposed to utilize evidence-based practice in their daily duties. It is only through evidence-based practice that nurses can gather adequate knowledge. Moreover, it is the duty of nurses to create a closer working relationship with clinicians so that they can gain and share the available knowledge in the most appropriate manner. Nursing roles can also be made more effective through qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Introduction
Evidence-based practice in global healthcare is a crucial area of concern for the nursing fraternity. Modern practice in nursing largely relies on practical solutions to various healthcare challenges faced by the society. Cancer is a major challenge in healthcare today. Although this form of cancer is mostly prevalent among women above the age of 50, age does not really matter (Brown, 2014). An individual may not be alcoholic but still contract cancer. It is does not emanate from a family history of cancer. Therefore, it calls for nurses to be on the forefront in the prevention and management of cancer.
Lack of early screening against cancer has been a key setback in the prevention efforts. It appears that most women shun away from early screening of cancer. Besides, poor treatment among cases of cancer has equally contributed towards poor management. It is against these backdrops that the nursing fraternity is charged with a holistic role of making sure that evidence-based practice is at part and parcel of the management practice for cancer. This paper explores evidence-based practice management of cancer in Korea.
Evidence-based research
The nursing profession has witnessed momentous development in evidence-based practice for some years now. However, it is crucial to mention that there are major variations when it comes to the definition of evidence-based practice (Brown, 2014). For instance, some of the tenets in nursing that are perceived as evidence-based include expert opinion, clinical knowledge, basic scientific knowledge and research findings. All of these sources of evidence-based practice are prudent in nursing. Different geographical locations and settings require evidence-based practice in order to obtain the desired patient outcomes. In most instances, cost containment is a major benefit derived from evidence-based practice.
The availability of information is also another importance of evidence-based practice in nursing (Dodd, 2008). As already hinted out, this form of practice creates a viable pool of knowledge that nurses require on their daily practice.
There are scores of consumers who require healthcare information. When nurses are well equipped with information from evidence-based practice, they can be in a position to share the same base of knowledge with other interested consumers. Researchers and clinicians must develop a closer working relationship for evidence-based practice to be viable. The latter is possible because nurses have an ample opportunity to practice relevant research when they engage in all exercises that are evidence-based in nature. In addition, evidence-based practice facilitates regular amendments in the education modules or courses offered to students according to the changing needs of the healthcare sector.
There are myriads of other prospects provided by evidence-based practice in healthcare sector. For example, a more dynamic, streamlined, effective and individualized nursing care is possible under the confines of evidence-based practice. When the latter are carried out properly, the impacts of clinical judgment can be optimized. The benefits of technological advances can also be reaped by nursing professionals when best practices are used to define evidence.
Importance of research methods
Both the present and future nursing practice heavily relies on the implementation of nursing research methods (Dodd, 2008). This implies that research methods in nursing are fundamental in effective nursing practice. Hence, the education process is rendered relevant by the qualitative and quantitative research methods. The field of healthcare depends on nursing research for its growth and development. As a matter of fact, new changes in nursing practice can only be implemented through research methods. Implementation of new changes is also accompanied by the development of new diagnosis and treatment techniques.
The main role played by research methods in nursing is to boost the standard of healthcare delivery. Healthcare recipients who have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses can indeed gain a lot of positive benefits through research methods in nursing. Assisting patients to recover expeditiously also depends on the quality of nursing care offered. The rate of morbidity within any given community may be remarkably minimized through nursing research. For instance, nurses have a broad chance of offering education to immediate communities on the best lifestyles to adopt. There are also a number of preventable diseases that can be prevented altogether when research methods are implemented fully (Dodd, 2008).
In the case of qualitative research method in nursing, new perspectives and enhanced comprehension of concepts can be easily realized. In other words, the descriptive nature of qualitative research offers a more elaborate explanation of various concepts. There are a lot of nursing data that can hardly be approached and understood from a quantitative perspective. Hence, complex phenomena can be readily understood through qualitative research methods.
How nurses manage cancer in Korea using evidence-based practice
The rehabilitation of cancer in Korea largely relies on the input of oncology nurses. In order to understand nurses’ perception, three focus groups were used in a qualitative study comprising of six to eight oncology nurses. Each of the nurses in the focus groups was interviewed on the management of cancer in Korea. The results obtained were then thematically analyzed (Chang & Park, 2013).
In order to capture the real essence of cancer rehabilitation using evidence-based approach, the study used two main themes. First, it sought to explore how nurses comprehensively take part in the cancer management process in Korea. Second, the research activity aimed at establishing active participation of cancer survivors and the overall role of nurses.
In addition, the study identified care experiences of oncology nurses of up to six subthemes. Hence, nurses who took part in the survey were supposed to share their feelings, experiences and partnership with cancer patients. Other subthemes included involving family members, regaining functional independence, enhancing internal strength, offering timely support, and fulfilling individualized needs.
From the findings, it is obvious that nurses in Korea use evidence-based approach in the management of cancer. For instance, cancer survivors depend on nurses for survival. They play comprehensive roles in the rapid recovery of cancer survivors. The management of cancer in Korea has been quite successful owing to a number of factors. For example, psychosocial intervention methods are taught to nurses who deal with cancer-related cases. The family unit is also actively involved in the cancer management of survivors through evidence-based approach. Oncology nurses also carry out individualized assessment of the survivors so that their progress levels can be known.
The needs of cancer survivors is a crucial area of concern in the management of the epidemic. From the analysis, nurses who were interviewed in the study confirmed that they were well equipped with requisite knowledge, skills and competences to manage various forms of cancer. Most of the nurses confirmed that they had the ability to relate with the feelings of cancer survivors and affected families. They also acknowledged the fact that survivors require thorough explanation on the progress of their health conditions especially in regards to factors such as depression, weight loss and other drastic changes taking place in their bodies. Finally, nurses in Korea employ a friendly approach in the rehabilitation of cancer patients (Chang & Park, 2013).
Conclusion
To recap it all, it is pertinent to reiterate that evidence-based practice in the nursing profession is fundamental towards effective delivery of care services to patients. As already discussed above, there are scores of healthcare challenges that nurses can play vital roles to minimize. In the case of knowledge required to perform daily nursing roles, evidence-based practice has been found to be effective. This essay has explored how nurses employ evidence-based practice in Korea to diagnose, treat and manage cancer. From the case analysis, it is vivid that under-treatment and late diagnosis are the major setbacks in the prevention of cancer. However, research methods in nursing have continually sought to improve healthcare delivery from the point of diagnosis to treatment.
References
Brown, J.B. (2014). Evidence-Based Nursing: The Research-Practice Connection. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Chang, H., & Park, Y. (2013). Cancer rehabilitation from the perspectives of oncology nurses in Korea. Nursing & Health Sciences, 15(2), 144-150.
Dodd, T. (2008). Quantitative and qualitative research data and their relevance to policy and practice. Nurse Researcher, 15(4):7-14.