Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses

Issue Ask Yourself (Implications for Nursing)

Worthiness of the project Is this a worthwhile project to pursue? Does it have value? What

will it add to nursing knowledge?

Competence boundaries Am I adequately prepared to conduct this study? If not, what

would I need to become so, or whom can I get to assist me?

Informed consent Have I obtained informed consent from participants? Did I explain

the purpose, risks, and benefits of the study and allow time for

questions?

Benefits, costs, and

reciprocity

Does the cost/benefit ratio make sense? Is it fiscally responsible?

Harm and risk Is there minimal harm or risk to participants? Have any potential

effects been explained to participants?

Honesty and trust Have I established trust and been honest with participants?

Privacy, confidentiality,

and anonymity

Have I received institutional review board approval? How have I

ensured privacy, confidentiality of responses, and anonymity of

participants will be maintained? Have I met criteria for training in

protection of human subjects?

Intervention and

advocacy

Do I advocate for the right when I observe wrong behavior of

other researchers? Can my subjects count on me to put their

interests above my own? Do I avoid any real or perceived conflict

of interest?

Research integrity and

quality

Do I adhere to accepted standards of practice and embrace

scientific integrity? Am I absolutely true to the data to avoid fraud

and deception in analysis? Have I considered every aspect of

evaluating trustworthiness of the data?

Ownership of data and

conclusions

Have I clarified who owns my work and the results of it? Who has

access to the data, and have I protected the data, and thus my

subjects, sufficiently?

Use and misuse of results Have I taken adequate care to avoid interventions and

persuasion instead of remaining in the role of the researcher?

Have my findings been sufficiently described so as not to be

misinterpreted or misused by others for their own purposes?

Conflicts, dilemmas, and

trade-offs

Have I examined all of the possible ethical dilemmas that could

arise, or have arisen, from my data collection and analysis? Have

I thought of my position related to these possible dilemmas

and how I would handle them? Have I taken steps to avoid any

possible conflict of interest related to the study?

Modified from Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. Thousand Oaks,

CA: Sage.

TABLE 14-3 Ethical Issues to Consider in Qualitative Research

14.4 Keeping It Ethical 397