Annotated Bibliography (Research Paper Sample)

Annotated Bibliography
Bergman-Evans, Brenda (2008). Uncovering Beliefs and Barriers: Staff Attitudes Related to
Advance Directives. AM J HOSP PALLIAT CARE October/November 2008 vol. 25
no. 5 347-353
This article was written to explore the attitudes that nurses have towards advance directives given by patients. The article is in line with the 1990 Patient Self-determination Act which allows patients’ wishes bordering on advance directives were listened to and adhered to even after the patients pass on. In coming up with the descriptive study, the authors carried out a survey to 650 hospitals and professionals who have served in the nursing field for long. 413 surveys were analyzed and the return rate of the surveys noted. Finally, the outcome suggests that even though nursing professionals are for advance directives they find it hard to implement them because of logistical challenges. The article proves worthwhile since the results of the survey give the required information for ensuring that advance directives are followed.
Boot, M. & Wilson, C. (2014). Clinical nurse specialists’ perspective on advance care
Planning conversations: a qualitative study. International Journal of Palliative
Nursing, 20(1) pp. 9-14
This article identifies the shortcomings met by clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) when having conversations dealing with advance care planning with patients suffering from recurrent illnesses. The responsibility of clinical nurses to facilitate such conversations have been documented in many documents and the authors go ahead to enumerate the challenges. In particular, the focus of the article is on the factors that affect CNSs when they are choosing whether to initiate an ACP discussion or not. Moreover, the methods for conducting such interviews have been listed to get data from predetermined palliative care CNSs. The findings, which include the ACP requiring the CNs to be keen on the harm that may arise as a result of the care and the benefits that are to be realized, have been listed. Finally, the article concludes by saying that ACP is all about taking risks for those who start it. The risk is largely due to the unforeseen and negative impacts that arise thereafter. The major limitation of the article is that it failed to come up with factors that facilitate nurses to start the process of ACP. Consequently, while the article is helpful for my research topic, it will need some adaptation to satisfy the requirements of the topic.
Davidson, R., Banister, E., & De Vries, K. (2013). PRIMARY healthcare NZ nurses’
Experiences of advance directives: Understanding their potential role. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 29(2), 26-33.
The aim of the authors of this article is to present the outcomes of a research which was conducted in New Zealand involving 13 senior hospital professionals concerning what they knew, their attitudes and their understanding of advance directives. Advance directives are known to improve the last days of a patient as regards their wishes. Nurse’s organizations in New Zealand pioneered their initial mission statement in the year 2010 as regards advance directives. Their view is an increase in application of the directives. The outcome of the analysis showed a dynamic process where those involved in the survey understood the part they should play in the area. Therefore the article is helpful in aiding me get the reflections on personal experiences of health professionals on advance directives issues.
Dow, L.A., Matsuyama, R.K., Ramakrishnan, V., Kuhn, L., Lamont, E.B., Lyckholm, L., &
Smith, T.J. (2010). Paradoxes in advance care planning: the complex relationship of
Oncology patients, their physicians, and advance medical directives. Journal Of
Clinical Oncology: Official Journal of The American Society of Clinical Oncology,
28(2), 299-304. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2009.24.6397
In this article, the authors review the stand of terminally ill cancer patients on advance directives (ADs). Their stand is that such patients do not make known their advance directives with their oncologists and this is likely to lead to unwanted intensive care when they near death. The authors carried out a survey to determine whether the stand the patients had a decade ago still stands. The interviews involved 75 newly admitted cancer patients. The outcome showed a marked improvement in the patients need for AD with about 40 % already having AD. Finally, the article recommends the need to enlighten patients on speaking their ADs, and the need to train health professionals and oncologists on ADs. Therefore, the article is helpful in the assignment as it gives the perspective of patients even when they have very serious illnesses.
Duke, G., Thompson, S., & Hastie, M. (2007). Factors influencing completion of advance
Directives in hospitalized patients. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 13(1),
39-43.
In the article, the authors describe a cross-sectional, detailed study that evaluates characteristics and a range of issues which affect decision making by patients in East Texas neighborhood to come up with an AD. They describe the results of their findings from the family unit. The family and a sense of spirituality are key factors that ensure a patient has an AD or not. Many of the patients got to know about ADs from their families and a small fraction from health care professionals. The authors report that the main reason patients in this area completed an AD is because they never wanted to be a burden to their families. Finally, the article ends by stating that health professionals are vague when it comes to AD discussions. However, the article fails to give the attitudes, knowledge and norms that should be adopted when dealing with advance directives. Such knowledge is helpful in giving patients peace of mind when they discuss ADs. The article helps me get the factors for coming up with ADs.
Golden, A.G., Tewary, S., Qadri, S., Zaw, K., Ruiz, J.G., & Roos, B.A (2011). The Positive
Attitudes and Perceptions of Care Managers About Advance Directives. American
Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 03/2011, Volume 28, Issue 2, pp.98 –
101.
The article looks at views of health professionals concerning necessity to discuss ADs with their patients. In their previous article, the authors reported that health professionals failed to convince their patients to have ADs. The results show that majority of health professionals believe it is imperative to discuss advance directives while only a few are of the view that it is time consuming. The overall stand is that health care professionals are positive about advance directives and there is need to provide them with knowledge and skills relevant for this sector. Since, the article, succinctly, recommends the need of nurses being trained to handle ADs it proves worthwhile for my assignment.
Gutierrez, K.M. (2012). Advance Directives in an Intensive Care Unit: Experiences and
Recommendations of Critical Care Nurses and Physicians. Critical Care Nursing
Quarterly Issue: Volume 35(4), October/December 2012, pp. 396-409.
The author reports that patients have reported issues dealing with advance directives. However, a new finding was that a patient refused to tell people her position on advance directive because she feared that doctors would withdraw life support before it was time. In particular, the author suggested that advance directives may be essential in solving disagreements that arise due to right use of certain treatment modes before court interventions. Finally, the author identifies that some families had successful discussions on advance directives and this may be limiting when it comes to having a broader understanding. Consequently, the article proves worthwhile in my article as it covers the family verses advance directives.
Hickman, R.L., & Pinto, M.D. (2014). Advance Directives Lessen the Decisional burden of
Surrogate Decision-making for the Chronically Critically Ill. Journal Of Clinical
Nursing, 23(5/6), pp. 756-765. DOI:10.1111/jocn.12427.
The article identifies the link between advance directive status, population and burdens that come with decision making, of surrogate decision makers (SDMs) of clients suffering from terminal illness. In particular, the authors point out that SDMs are responsible for difficult decisions that have to be made on behalf of the patients even though advance directives have increased. Consequently, if ADs are used there is no major influence on decisions made by surrogate decision makers. This article is helpful as it introduces the concept of SDMs.
Hinderer, K. & Lee, M. (2014). Assessing a nurse-led Advance Directive and Advance Care
Planning Seminar. Applied Nursing Research 27(1) pp. 84-86.
The article assesses how effective a health professional led educational advance directive seminar makes use of the Five Wishes on attitudes and conversations. Advance directives and advance care planning (ACP) are important in coming up with patient-centered near-death decisions. In spite of their relevance, completion rates for advance directives in the US are low. The main reason for patients not taking part in ACP and AD is insufficient knowledge on the two. Finally, the results of the study make people understand the purpose of nursing-driven community-based knowledge approach to enhance AD adoption and involvement in ACP process. Consequently, I find it helpful in my research.
O’Sullivan, R., Mailo, K., Angeles, R., & Agarwal, G. (2015). Advance Directives: Survey of
Primary Care Patients. Canadian Family Physician Médecin De Famille Canadien, 61
(4), pp. 353-356.
This article describes the prevalence of sick people with advance directives in a family practice with the aid of a survey. The s...