Page 97 - APPENDIX B: Trials Investigating the Management of Acute Radiation-Induced Skin Reactions Reading Qualitative Research
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WOUND CARE
information is received from wound care product manufacturers that might also influence
practice. However, the implementation of a standardized policy will assist in the provision of
individualized patient care.
Integration and patient-centred care. The overarching theme of ‘integration and patient-
centered care’ is a key attribute that Radiation Therapy Nurses use in their practice, especially in
the area of wound care management in radiation oncology. The perception of
comprehensiveness overlaps with the image of integration (Kodner & Spreeuwenberg, 2002).
Integration of nursing skills and specialized knowledge of radiation oncology, available
resources for wound care, institutional policy and procedures are vital in the context of nursing
practice. The art of integration is essential in clinical decision-making, inter-professional
relationships and in the delivery of enhanced client experience. All organizations are to an
extent, hierarchical structures consisting of distinct, yet interconnected constituents that are
intended to play complementary roles in order to accomplish their joined tasks (Pfeffer, 1982).
The salient aspect of integration and patient-centred care were the essence of collaborative
practice among inter-professional team members in wound care management during
radiotherapy.
Question #3: The context of professional practice. All phases of the study focused on
understanding the context of nursing practice environment in Canada. Nurses’ perceived roles in
clinical decision-making and inter-professional practice were particularly explored in the context
of wound management of patients with cancer during radiotherapy.
Complexity in clinical decision-making. The perception of complexity in nursing role
and clinical judgment in the area of wound management during radiotherapy was evident from
all sources of data. Most centres (71%) did not have a reference document such as local policy,
