Evidence-based practice in nursing is crucial for the realization of optimum care outcomes. Nurses utilize evidence from sources such as peer-reviewed journals and practice guidelines to make their care decisions. Nurses also generate evidence-based information from activities such as research. Novel practices such as the use of teletrauma have proven effective in enhancing care outcomes. However, there is limited evidence on its acceptability by healthcare providers as well as highly valid and reliable evidence on its impact on clinical outcomes. Therefore, my research project intends to determine the impact of teletrauma on health outcomes and the experiences of the caregivers with it. This paper examines the ethical issues that will guide the research.
Several ethical issues related to the research must be considered. One of them is data confidentiality and privacy. Teletrauma is an intervention that relies on technology use to provide virtual care. The technology is prone to data breaches that threaten the integrity of the patients’ data. Interventions that protect data privacy and confidentiality must be adopted. Examples include adopt evidence-based teletrauma technology and training users on the utilization of the technology (Daly & Jackson, 2020). Healthcare policies such as Health Information Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) will also inform the strategies utilized in teletrauma.
Researchers must also ensure the protection of participants’ right to autonomy in their studies. Protecting research autonomy requires researchers to consider aspects such as seeking informed consent from the participants. Healthcare providers will offer informed consent before their participation in the project (Jackson et al., 2023). The consent will symbolize their willingness to utilize teletrauma without any coercion or intimidation from the project leaders.
The undertaking of any research must ensure the promotion of safety in the process. The ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence should inform the research interventions. Teletrauma technology should not predispose patients to unintended harm. Nurses and other healthcare providers involved in the project should select evidence-based technologies associated with optimum benefits such as safety, quality, and efficiency. Healthcare providers will also be trained to ensure they are competent to utilize teletrauma in the provision of emergency and critical care services. It will also be imperative to weigh the benefits versus the risks of the research (Grove & Gray, 2022). The researcher will ensure that the research has optimum benefits to the patients and healthcare providers and minimal potentials for harm.
As noted initially, the use of teletrauma is new to healthcare. As a result, the undertaking of any research should aim at adding value to the profession. The investigation should bridge the existing knowledge gaps in nursing practice. It should also have positive social value by improving the health outcomes of the diverse populations. The proposed research has social and clinical significance. First, it aims at informing the clinical use of teletrauma to improve outcomes. It also generates results that will inform future researches in the topic. The social value of the research is that is seeks to enhance outcomes for critically ill patients requiring emergency care (Butts & Rich, 2019). The research also aims at providing evidence on the impact of teletrauma on efficiency of care given to these patients.
Researchers must also respect the rights of the participants in any project. Accordingly, the participants have the right to information, informed decision-making and to withdraw from the research at any given point. They also have the right to withhold any information that relates to the research focus. The proposed research will prioritize the protection of the rights of the participants. They will be provided with full information about the scope and need of the project. Healthcare providers will also have the freedom to stop utilizing teletrauma at any given point (Jackson et al., 2023). The protection of these rights will ensure the empowerment of the participants to be proactively involved in the use of the technology for the provision of patient care services.
It is also crucial for the researchers to ensure validity in their investigation. Validity in research refers to the level in which the results measure its intended purpose in a research. Researchers achieve validity by comparing their results with the already established measures or theories. Validity will be maintained in the proposed research. Similar approaches to its implementation will be utilized to ensure the accuracy of the results. For example, healthcare providers will be trained on the use of teletrauma to ensure they deliver consistent, high-quality care to the patients (Wood et al., 2021). The results will be measured against the established models of measurement to determine the validity of the project.
In conclusion, the proposed research aims at investigating the impact of teletrauma and user experiences with it. The research entails technology use for the provision of acute and emergency care services. Several ethical issues must be considered in the implementation of this research. Therefore, I will explore them to ensure the research aligns with the established processes of an ethical investigation.
References
Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2019). Nursing Ethics: Across the Curriculum and Into Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Daly, J., & Jackson, D. (2020). Contexts of Nursing: An Introduction. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Grove, S. K., & Gray, J. R. (2022). Study Guide for Understanding Nursing Research E-Book: Building an Evidence-Based Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Jackson, D., Power, T., & Walthall, H. (2023). Navigating the Maze of Research: Enhancing Nursing and Midwifery Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Wood, T., Freeman, S., Banner, D., Martin-Khan, M., Hanlon, N., & Flood, F. (2021). Factors associated with teletrauma utilization in rural areas: A review of the literature. Rural and Remote Health, 21(1), 6354. https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH6354
Assessment Details
As you develop a research proposal, you must consider the ethical issues related to it.
Determine the ethical considerations related to the research question you developed as part of your Research Foundations worksheet.
Consider the 7 main principles of ethical research introduced in this module’s learning activity, Research Ethics Guidance: (found at National Institutes of Health Patient Recruitment). Be sure to address the role cultural diversity might play in your research.
Social and clinical value
Scientific validity
Fair subject selection
Favorable risk–benefit ratio
Independent review
Informed consent
Respect for potential and enrolled subjects
