Ethical Considerations
Throughout this course, you will have explored the importance of research, the impact of research, and the different types of research. During our final week, you will explore the importance of ethical considerations in research.
In this Discussion, you will focus on a specific study to explore ethics in research and consider the importance of the ethics pledge.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
· Alsan, M., & Wanamaker, M. (2018).
Tuskegee and the health of black menLinks to an external site..
The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 133(1), 407–455.
· Bates, B. R., & Harris, T. M. (2004).
The Tuskegee study of untreated syphilis and public perceptions of biomedical research: A focus group studyLinks to an external site..
Journal of the National Medical Association, 96(8), 1051–1064.
· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, December 5).
The USPHS untreated syphilis study at TuskegeeLinks to an external site.
.
· Hunt, D. F., Dunn, M., Harrison, G., & Bailey, J. (2021).
Ethical considerations in quality improvement: key questions and a practical guideLinks to an external site..
BMJ Open Quality, 10(3), e001497.
· Office for Human Research Protections. (n.d.).
Quality improvement activities FAQsLinks to an external site.
. United States Department of Health and Human Services.
·
Document:
Doctoral Project Ethics Pledge (Word document)
Download Doctoral Project Ethics Pledge (Word document)
To prepare:
· Read and view the Learning Resources, focusing specifically on the Tuskegee study resources.
· Read the ethics pledge.
By Day 3 of Week 11
Post a response including the following:
· What are the characteristics of the research study (Tzeng & Yin, 2017), the quality improvement study (Khoja & Moosa, 2023), and the DNP project (Bangura, 2024) in terms of generalizability, sampling, and the nature of ethical protections?
· Compare and contrast ethical considerations in research to ethics requirements for QI and/or for a DNP project.
By Day 5 of Week 11
Read a selection of your colleagues’ posts and
respond to
at least two of your colleagues on
two different days by expanding upon their reflections, making connections to your perceptions, and offering additional insights.
Reply
CLASS,
In this discussion, you will focus on a specific study to explore ethics in research and consider the importance of the ethics pledge.
Our interactive discussion addresses the following learning objectives:
· Analyze ethical considerations in relation to DNP problem statements
· Compare and contrast ethical considerations for research vs. quality improvement or any type of DNP project
· Compare and contrast a research study, a QI study, and a DNP project with regard to generalizability and protection of human subjects (IRB review)
Post a response to the following prompts:
· What are the characteristics of the research study (Tzeng & Yin, 2017), the quality improvement study (Khoja & Moosa, 2023), and the DNP project (Bangura, 2024) in terms of generalizability, sampling, and the nature of ethical protections?
· Compare and contrast ethical considerations in research to ethics requirements for QI and/or for a DNP project.
We encourage you to read the question carefully to answer all aspects presented.
RESPOND TO THIS DISCUSSION POST
Charlisa
WK 11 Main Discussion Post – NURS 8211C
Characteristics Comparison
In our exploration of the research study by Tzeng and Yin (2017), we discovered a significant exploratory cross-sectional survey design. Their use of secondary data analysis to investigate the relationship between nurses’ perceptions of preventive fall interventions and their frequency of use in acute care settings was a significant step. They identified over twenty effective interventions that could prevent falls and reduce further patient injuries, a finding of great significance in our field.
Khoja and Moosa’s quality improvement project (2023) aimed to see if tailored interventions for patient safety (TIPS) in a medical-surgical orthopedic unit (MSOU) were as effective in reducing fall rates as the current practice. This study, focusing on improving current workflow processes and enhancing efficiency, provides practical insights that can be applied within a specific organization. The results are intended to identify gaps in practice and enhance the current implementation process, improving healthcare quality.
The Bangura (2024) DNP project aimed to see if intentional rounding would decrease fall rates in a Veterans’ long-term care facility. The project investigated current nursing practice and translated the findings into practice to improve patient outcomes related to fall prevention. The goal is to focus on translating evidence into practice.
Ethical Considerations
Traditional research studies like Tzeng and Yin’s require extensive ethical oversight. They must follow formal protocols to ensure participant protection, including informed consent processes, privacy measures, confidentiality guarantees, and the right to withdraw from the study. This study was approved by each of the different health systems’ institutional review boards (IRBs), ensuring the highest ethical standards were met.
QI projects such as Khoja & Moosa (2023) pose minimal physical, psychological, social, or financial risk to participants; however, the threat to privacy and confidentiality of protected health information remains an important consideration. These projects require different ethical considerations than formal research, but care should be taken to minimize the possibility of patient harm or other moral wrongs and staff burden (Hunt et al., 2021). This study was initiated with the help of the hospital’s Fall Advisory Council.
DNP projects, which commonly incorporate quality improvement methodologies, must consider ethical dimensions even when they may not require formal IRB review. Since many DNP projects are conducted within healthcare organizations and involve patient care processes, they must still adhere to ethical principles of patient protection, confidentiality, and professional conduct.
Conclusion
The three types of studies reviewed differ in their objectives, methods, and ethical requirements. Understanding the specific ethical considerations for each type of study is essential to protect participants and achieve the goals of enhancing healthcare delivery and advancing nursing knowledge.
References
Bangura, F. (2024).
Development and evaluation of a nurse practitioner–directed intentional rounding strategy, and its impact on decreasing falls in a veterans long-term care facility (Publication No. 30991997) [Doctoral dissertation, Wilmington University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.
to an external site.
Hunt, D., Dunn, M., Harrison, G., & Bailey, J. (2021). Ethical considerations in quality improvement: Key questions and a practical guide.
BMJ Open Quality,
10(3), e001497.
Links to an external site.
Khoja, A., & Moosa, L. (2023). Impact of tailored interventions for patient safety (tips) to reduce fall rates.
MEDSURG Nursing,
32(2), 89.
to an external site.
Tzeng, H.-M., & Yin, C.-Y. (2017). A multihospital survey on effective interventions to prevent hospital falls in adults.
Nursing Economics,
35(6), 304–313.
to an external site.
