Davies Ruth
St Cadoc's Caerleon, Gwent.
Br J Nurs. 2003;12(4):224-30, 232. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2003.12.4.11162.
This article describes how epidemiology may be used effectively to provide hard statistical data upon which to justify and base the development of paediatric palliative nursing services within a defined locality. Through an analysis of mortality data this study identified the number of children and young people with life-limited (LL) conditions who met the criteria for paediatric palliative care (PPC) in South Glamorgan. Findings from this were then related to the provision of services, including nursing services, required to meet the PPC needs of children and those of their families within such a population. Outcomes identify the need for a multiprofessional/multiagency approach to care provision, including family nursing, respite and terminal care as well as postbereavement support. This study highlights how epidemiology may be used effectively to identify unmet needs and promote better systems of care delivery. Studies such as this strengthen the argument for nurses to cast aside what has been perceived as a hesitancy to use quantitative methods of research (Bonnell, 1999). Epidemiology, as a methodology, may now be deemed as yet another vital weapon in the nurse researchers' armoury aimed at providing evidence-based health care.
本文描述了如何有效地运用流行病学来提供确凿的统计数据，以此为在特定地区开展儿科姑息护理服务的合理性及发展奠定基础。通过对死亡率数据的分析，本研究确定了南格拉摩根郡患有生命受限（LL）疾病且符合儿科姑息治疗（PPC）标准的儿童和青少年的数量。然后，将此研究结果与为满足这类人群中儿童及其家庭的PPC需求而提供的服务（包括护理服务）联系起来。研究结果表明需要采取多专业/多机构的护理提供方式，包括家庭护理、临时护理和临终护理以及丧亲后支持。本研究强调了如何有效地运用流行病学来识别未满足的需求并促进更好的护理提供系统。这样的研究强化了护士摒弃被认为对使用定量研究方法有所迟疑的观点的论据（博内尔，1999年）。流行病学作为一种方法，现在可被视为护士研究人员的又一重要武器，旨在提供循证医疗保健。
