Description
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I cannot say that I have read a report of a qualitative study before reading the one in this chapter. However, upon reading the qualitative study by OLynn & Krautscheld, I have gained a better understanding on the matter.
The researchers for this particular study thought it would be an important study to conduct due to the simple reason of respect of patients wishes and boundaries when it comes to nurses and touch, particularly when it comes to male nurses. Another reason for the study’s importance is to make healthcare workers more aware of patient’s feelings regarding touch and their feelings surrounding it. I for one, do not care for a male doctor when I have to have my annual gynecology check up. It is a personal choice, and feel much more comfortable and at ease with a female provider (O’Lynn, et al., 2011).
The study conducted by O’Lynn and Krautscheid made it so that the study was done from a patient’s perspective and feelings. The other studies were mainly from the perspective of healthcare workers (nurses). This is fine, except that there is really no way to learn what a patient might be feeling, or prefer, when being touched by a healthcare provider, especially in vulnerable places of their bodies. The fact that the study was done based on several patient’s feelings and perspectives helps us as future nurses, determine better approaches to patient’s and how they might feel during any given procedure or assessment (O’Lynn, et al., 2011). This again, is relevant to what I stated previously regarding my personal feelings and preference for a female provider. The nurse would not be able to tell what I was feeling or thought during any given procedure or assessment unless I voiced my concerns/thoughts.
Reference
O’Lynn, C. & Krautscheid, L. (2011). Original Research: ‘How Should I Touch You?’: A Qualitative Study of Attitudes on Intimate Touch in Nursing Care. AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 111 (3), 24-31. doi: 10.1097/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000395237.83851.79.