Achieving a greater understanding of experiences in health care and illness can improve service provision. It is only by understanding meanings that nurses can influence health behaviour and lifestyles.
Nursing staff need to be aware of the impact of untreated urinary incontinence on older people. Practitioners should promote continence rather than employing containment strategies. A validated assessment tool for older people needs to be developed. Views of older people should be sought regarding their attitudes towards urinary incontinence.
This article, which forms part of the life sciences series and is the first of two articles on the endocrine system, examines the structure and function of the organs of the endocrine system. It is important that nurses understand how the endocrine system works and its role in maintaining health. The role of the endocrine system and the types, actions and control of hormones are explored. The gross structure of the pituitary and thyroid glands are described along with relevant physiology. Several disorders of the thyroid gland are outlined. The second article examines growth hormone, the pancreas and adrenal glands.
Phenomenology is a recognised approach for investigating experiences in health research. Difficulties regarding the approach, however, have been documented with even the definitions and terminology sometimes being unclear. In addition to this, there have been claims that many nurse researchers have failed to report how the gap between philosophically related theory and research practice is managed. While legitimacy can be increased by claims regarding theoretical location, there have also been suggestions that engaging too intensely in methodological awareness can hinder the practice and progress of a research project. A balance is therefore required. This article concentrates on the dilemmas and challenges facing a researcher looking for an appropriate method and approach for a study investigating the experiences of stroke survivors. The challenges of using phenomenology as a research method and the approach of interpretative phenomenological analysis are further considered.
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