An ethical analysis of end of life care in a hospital setting
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An ethical analysis of end of life care in a hospital setting.
IRAS ID
138747
Contact name
Fiona M. A. MacCormick
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
This study aims to provide an ethical analysis of end of life care in a hospital setting. The researcher will use a qualitative approach, employing ethnographic methods of observation, individual interviews and focus groups to gather data. The study will be conducted in six phases: the first phase involves an extensive literature review about end of life care in the UK and abroad, ethical issues and ethical analysis of care at the end of life. A wide range of databases will be searched; including medical, nursing, sociology, philosophy and ethical journals. During the second phase of the study the researcher will immerse herself on two medical wards over a period of 12 months in order to observe end of life care in practice. The third phase will involve individual interviews with selected patients, their family members and close friends, and healthcare staff. The fourth phase of the study involves synthesis and analysis of data as it emerges during the researcher’s observation and interview data. Following the tradition of a grounded theory approach, the researcher will collect and analyse data simultaneously. Constant comparative analysis will help guide the direction of ongoing data collection. The fifth phase of the study involves focus group discussions with lay and professional volunteers. They will discuss anonymised vignettes of real cases of end of life care observed on the wards. The aim of the focus groups is to help define and confirm conclusions drawn from the literature, observations and interviews. The sixth phase will run continuously throughout the study and involves ethical reflection on the literature and new data as it emerges. Through these six phases of study, the researcher seeks to explore key ethical issues and to identify and examine areas of ethical confusion or difficulty in end of life care.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/0104
Date of REC Opinion
12 May 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion