USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS BY NURSES IN IMPROVING QUALITY HEALTH CARE - Essay Example

USE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS BY NURSES IN IMPROVING QUALITY HEALTH CARE Sharon Edwards Tennessee Tech Ashley Allison 9/25/14Abstract Chronic diseases commonly involve various apects of health care to ensure their effective management. Different interventions are commonly utilized because of the compex circumstances surrounding the occurences of the conditons and the capacity for indivduals to live with these conditons. Patients suffering from chronic diseases like cardiac diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, malignancies, etc. suffer from various psychological issues like stress, anxiety and depression. These problems greatly interfere with their swift recovery and health outcomes. This research has selected two most common diseases: coronary heart diseases and cancer in order to study how psychological interventions performed by nurses can impact health outcomes of such patients. The research is of various researches which were conducted seeking to make evaluation of the effects and impact of psychological interventaion on patients suffering from these conditions. In addition, this study has been conducted by meta-analysis and systemic review of original research conducted on the subject and their theoretical relevance to current paractice. The results from randomized controlled trials show that if nurses incorporate psychological interventions in treating patients with coronary heart diseases and cancer significant improvement in quality of health care can be obtained. However, it is found that these interventions do not considerably decrease the overall mortality rate, but significantly improve the life span and quality of health of patients suffering from chronic diseases. Introduction There are numerous interventions nurses utilize to provide healthcare services to patients which enhance quick recovery. Recuperation of the patient is the fundamental purpose for the application of different interventions in treatment of different conditions facing them. While medical interventions might be assumed to have significant effect on the recovery by patients, other interventions are also utilized to quicken the recovery process. The presence of psychological conditions affecting patients with chronic diseases affects an individual’s response to medication provided for treatment of the condition. Patients suffering from chronic diseases are commonly affected by the other conditions like depression and these cannot be effectively managed through medical interventions (Hoffman, Papas, Chatkoff, & Kerns, 2007). Studies have revealed lack of practicing psychological interventions by nurses dealys recovery of patients with chronic diseases (Stanton, Revenson, & Tennen, 2007). This necessitates utilization of psychological intervention to enhance recovery among patients suffering from various chronic conditions. This study is designed to analyze different controlled trials performed to evaluate the relationship between psychological interventions and health improvement of patients. Psychological issues faced by patients hinder their recovery and often worsen the disease condition. The research will be helpful in identifying the main psychological interventions proven for improvement in patient care. Variables Independent Variables: Controlled trials conducted on psychological interventions relating to patient health. Dependent Variables: Health outcomes and recovery patterns of patients. Summary Research revealed psychological interventions performed by nurses can significantly improve patient health status (Claar & Blumenthal, 2003). Patients suffering from chronic diseases like Cardiac diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, Malignancies, etc. suffer from various psychological issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression. These problems interfere in patient recovery and health outcomes. This research selected two prevalent diseases, coronary heart diseases and cancer, to study how psychological interventions performed by nurses can impact health outcomes of such patients. This study has been conducted by meta-analysis and systemic review of original research conducted on the subject and their theoretical relevance. The results from randomized controlled trials show if nurses incorporate psychological interventions in treating patients with coronary heart diseases and cancer significant improvement in quality of health care can be obtained (Osborn, Demoncada, & Feuerstein, 2006). However, it is found that these interventions do not considerably decrease the overall mortality rate, but significantly improve the life span and quality of health of patients suffering from chronic diseases. This paper focuses on the relationship between nursing and psychology by examining the application and use of psychological interventions in improving patient health outcomes and quality of care. The study has mainly selected two chronic diseases: coronary heart diseases and cancer in order to evaluate the impact of different psychology models on the health improvement of patients suffering from them (Claar & Blumenthal, 2003). Literature Review Cognitive behavior of individuals commonly has a fundamental effect on how the body functions in response to other external factors (Stanton et al., 2007). Medical interventions are the basic interventions applied to the different individuals hospitalized with different chronic conditions. Observation of these patients, however, necessitates the inclusion of different interventions in seeking to enhance the recovery. There as some commonly reported psychological problems associated with the presence of chronic diseases among patients (Osborn et al., 2006). Depression and anxiety are some of the fundamental psychological problems associated with chronic diseases and which require psychological interventions. These problems have detrimental effects upon the patient’s cognitive skills. Assessment conducted on different psychological interventions presented positive findings indicating the efficacy of the psychological interventions (Hoffman et al., 2007). Some of the common psychological effects of chronic diseases include emotional functioning of the patient becoming impaired. Psychological interventions range from examinations to visits by the medical professional. The impact of such social gestures has been established as an element which has the potent of improving a patient’s well-being, consequently enhancing recovery. The effects of the diseases are commonly displayed upon the behaviors of the affected individuals. Chronic diseases present a crucial challenge in the psychological and social burdens by the conditions upon the patients and immediate family members as well. to enhance management of these conditions, patients require significant level of psychological adjustments to enhance the daily functioning of the body systems (Stanton et al., 2007). The experience of many chronic conditions necessitates adoption of different ways of livelihood which could affected the patient’s cognitive capabilities. Since many of these conditions have limited medical interventions, the management factors of the conditions involve psychological and even social interventions. The modification to an altered way of life by the affected individuals presents a challenge, necessitating the application of psychological interventions. Method Purpose To summarize the publications existing on the implications of psychological interventions in nursing profession with patient care, and focusing of patients with coronary conditions and cancer. Study Design The study will utilize a meta-analysis approach to analyze findings from various studies included within the context of this research. The utilization of this research design enables the study to include an increased sample size, which will enhance the capability of the researcher to study the effects of interest. This research design also allows the researcher to make comparisons of findings established by different researchers in seeking to increase the precision of conclusions established from them. Population and Sample The studies included within this research have been selected through a random approach from a large database of studies to analyze the effects of psychological interventions on patients suffering from coronary heart diseases and cancer, including both men and women. random selections was utilized in order to eliminate the assumption of true effect of the independent variable on all the included studies. Investigative Techniques The techniques utilized within the study will include analysis of various publications presenting information on the topic being studied. Different literature sources will be analyzed in order to assign weights to studies which can be included or excluded from the research. Instrumentation A meta-analysis including randomized controlled trials, intervention studies, and telephone monitoring. Data Collection The data involved within the research is entirely secondary data from research previously published from multiple sources regarding the topic being researched. The researcher will utilize internet sources, libraries, and other databases which will be searched by using keywords for data collection. Data Analysis Plan Qualitative Comparison Analysis is performed by comparing and contrasting information (Onwuegbuzie, Leech, & Collins, 2012). A unique case orientation approach will be utilized in making the first levels of data analysis in order to eliminate the bias which might occur at later stages of the research. This will be critical in enhancing the analysis of the findings in order to draw valid conclusions based on the researches include within the research. Ethical Considerations The study has evaluated secondary and primary data sources from original research, therefore it cannot be counted as original research. However, the agreement for no conflict of interest has been signed by the researcher. Bias While the researcher has conducted various activities seeking to eliminate bias within the research, there are various factors which could result in the development of bias. Assumptions The basic assumptions made within this research are: The information presented in the literature is well researched and based on original research. The integrity and ethical issues were effectively addressed within the research conducted earlier The large sample of studies can be applied with generalization to the population based on the validity of the findings Limitations The lack of information remains a fundamental limiting aspects to the type of conclusions and analysis by the researcher. Heterogeneity in the findings presented by the different researchers included within this research makes it extremely difficult to draw conclusions regarding the effect of the condition being studied. Justification of the results and conclusions becomes difficult because of the existing discrepancies in the findings of the different research. References Claar, R. L., & Blumenthal, J. A. (2003). The value of stress-management interventions in life-threatening medical conditions. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12(4), 133–137. Hoffman, B. M., Papas, R. K., Chatkoff, D. K., & Kerns, R. D. (2007). Meta-analysis of psychological interventions for chronic low back pain. Health Psychology, 26(1), 1–9. Onwuegbuzie, A. J., Leech, N. L., & Collins, K. M. (2012). Qualitative Analysis Techniques for the Review of the Literature. Qualitative Report, 17, 1–28. Osborn, R. L., Demoncada, A. C., & Feuerstein, M. (2006). Psychosocial interventions for depression, anxiety, and quality of life in cancer survivors: meta-analyses. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 36(1), 13–34. Stanton, A. L., Revenson, T. A., & Tennen, H. (2007). Health psychology: psychological adjustment to chronic disease. Annual Review of Psychology, 58, 565–592.  Read More