The lived experience of using Watson's actual caring occasion to treat depressed women

The Effect of Watson's Human Caring Model on Meaning of Life and Symptom Management in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Watson's Human Caring Model on the meaning of life and symptom management in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

DESIGN

The study was conducted using a real test model featuring a pretest and posttest and a control group.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 158 adult cancer patients (79 in both the experimental and control groups). The sample size was determined and the participants were allocated to groups using power analysis and a random sampling method. For the pretest, both groups completed an introductory questionnaire, the Life Attitude Profile, and the General Symptom Inventory. Then, the experimenter visited the experimental group patients' homes three times, at 2-week intervals, to provide nursing care based on Watson's model. Finally, after 8 weeks, a posttest was conducted by having both groups complete the Life Attitude Profile and General Symptom Inventory once again.

RESULTS

In the experimental group, the mean total posttest score for the Life Attitude Profile was determined to be 164.21 ± 36.5, and the mean total General Symptom Inventory score was 55.06 ± 13.19; however, in the control group, the mean total Life Attitude Profile score was 127.31 ± 10.61 and the mean total General Symptom Inventory score was 136.91 ± 16.20. The mean differences between the groups were statistically significant (p < .001).

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Care based on Watson's model increases the sense of meaning in life and decreases symptom levels for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The Effect of Watson’s Care Model on Anxiety, Depression, and Stress in Turkish Women

This study was designed to determine the effect of the care, given according to Watson’s model, on depression, stress, and anxiety levels of women who underwent medical abortion. This study was conducted between 2016 and 2017 as a real test model with a pretest-posttest control group. The data were collected by the researcher in women’s homes. Watson’s model decreased DAS levels of the women in the experimental group after the medical abortion.

Fit for Practice: Analysis and Evaluation of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring

The aim of the authors of this paper is to analyze Watson’s theory of human caring for its usefulness and worth in education, practice, and research. The reason for undertaking this analysis is to evaluate if Watson’s theory would be useful for nursing in those countries where such theories were not an established part of the nursing curriculum. Furthermore, in some European countries, their political past or cultural influences led to an unquestioned adoption of the biomedical model. As their political culture changes, many social structures have had to be revisited, and for nursing, this has meant the introduction of theoretical reasoning, teaching, and practice.

Review of Research Related to Watson's Theory of Caring

Forty retrievable studies are reviewed, covering the period of 1988 to 2003, that were based on Watson’s theory of caring. The author provides an overview of the studies, identifies measurement instruments developed, critiques the body of work, and offers suggestions for future research.

Authentic caring occasions for patients in hairy cell leukemia clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Rare diseases present challenges for patients, healthcare providers, and researchers. Rare disease communities exist for collaboration, dissemination of information, and to promote support for all community members. Patients with a rare disease desire to be supported through a rare disease community. Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare adult B-cell lymphocytic cancer that currently has no cure.

OBJECTIVES

Patients with relapsed or refractory HCL may need to consider participation in a clinical trial. The research nurse can initiate a planned caring occasion based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring. The purpose of the planned caring occasion for patients with HCL in clinical trials is to establish authentic intentional caring encounters between the research nurse and patients and meaningful caring encounters between patients.

OBSERVATIONS

Relapsed or refractory patients enrolled in an HCL clinical trial identify the trial as a microcommunity and the research nurse as an advocate and liaison. Patients seek support, empowerment, and the opportunity to connect with other patients with HCL. The planned caring occasion has the potential to provide a healing environment and facilitate shared experiences of living with HCL. The potential outcome for patients is strengthened holistic wellness.