Johnson Gideon U, Towell-Barnard Amanda, McLean Christopher, Robert Glenn, Ewens Beverley
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia.
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Nurs Open. 2025 Sep;12(9):e70291. doi: 10.1002/nop2.70291.
Interpretive descriptive design is a well-established methodology in healthcare research, offering novel insights into complex phenomena that may elude other qualitative methods. Although interpretive descriptive is effective in translating findings into clinical practice, its application to intensive care unit interventions remains limited. The intricate nature of the intensive care unit environment and the vulnerability of this patient group, necessitates methodologies that delve deeply into interactions and translate them into practical solutions.
This study applies an interpretive descriptive methodology to evaluate the Family Member's Voice Reorientation (FAMVR) programme, focusing on its impact on ICU patients, families and nurses and assessing its feasibility for clinical integration in delirium care.
The study involved semi-structured interviews with three patients, six family members and a focus group of eight nurses. The data were analysed thematically, revealing insights into how interpretive descriptive methodology can guide actionable insights into intensive care unit-based, family-led interventions.
Interpretive descriptive methodology enabled a nuanced exploration of the FAMVR programme, capturing how it influenced the emotional, cognitive and practical aspects of care for patients, families and clinicians. The study found that sensitivity to context was crucial in understanding participants' experiences within the high-stakes intensive care unit setting. The interpretive descriptive approach also allowed for a holistic view, incorporating physical, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions of care, thereby enhancing the intervention's relevance and applicability in delirium management.
This study demonstrates that interpretive descriptive methodology is particularly well-suited for evaluating complex intensive care unit interventions, providing a comprehensive understanding of participants' experiences and yielding practical, family-centred recommendations. Findings suggest that interpretive descriptive methods can inform the refinement of interventions like FAMVR, making them more responsive to the unique needs of ICU patients and their families, while highlighting the value of family involvement in enhancing patient care. These insights position interpretive descriptive as a valuable approach for future qualitative research in healthcare settings.
No patient or public contribution.
ACTRN12622001568707; ANZCTR (https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=385122&isClinicalTrial=False).
诠释性描述设计是医疗保健研究中一种成熟的方法，能为其他定性方法可能无法捕捉的复杂现象提供新颖见解。尽管诠释性描述在将研究结果转化为临床实践方面很有效，但其在重症监护病房干预措施中的应用仍然有限。重症监护病房环境的复杂性以及该患者群体的脆弱性，需要深入探究互动并将其转化为实际解决方案的方法。
本研究应用诠释性描述方法来评估家庭成员声音重新定位（FAMVR）项目，重点关注其对重症监护病房患者、家属和护士的影响，并评估其在谵妄护理中临床整合的可行性。
该研究包括对三名患者、六名家属进行半结构化访谈，以及对八名护士进行焦点小组访谈。对数据进行主题分析，揭示诠释性描述方法如何能为基于重症监护病房、由家庭主导的干预措施提供可操作的见解。
诠释性描述方法使对FAMVR项目的细致探究成为可能，了解到它如何影响患者、家属和临床医生护理的情感、认知和实际方面。研究发现，在高风险的重症监护病房环境中，对背景的敏感性对于理解参与者的经历至关重要。诠释性描述方法还能提供全面的视角，纳入护理的身体、情感、社会和精神层面，从而增强干预措施在谵妄管理中的相关性和适用性。
本研究表明，诠释性描述方法特别适合评估复杂的重症监护病房干预措施，能全面理解参与者的经历，并产生以家庭为中心的实用建议。研究结果表明，诠释性描述方法可为FAMVR等干预措施的改进提供参考，使其更能满足重症监护病房患者及其家属的独特需求，同时凸显家庭参与对改善患者护理的价值。这些见解将诠释性描述定位为未来医疗保健环境定性研究的一种有价值的方法。
无患者或公众贡献。
ACTRN12622001568707；澳大利亚和新西兰临床试验注册中心（https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=385122&isClinicalTrial=False）
