Trauma‐informed qualitative research: Some methodological and practical considerations

Mental health nurses who engage in research are likely to undertake research on sensitive topics, related to experiences of illness, care delivery and treatment. With recognition of the high prevalence of trauma in the lives of people who interact with mental health services, it is likely that many...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of mental health nursing Vol. 30; no. S1; pp. 1456 - 1469
Main Author: Isobel, Sophie
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Richmond Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2021
Subjects:
Consciousness
Ethics
Health research
Leadership
Medical personnel
Mental health
mental health nursing
Mental health services
methodology
Nurse led services
Nurses
Professional training
Psychiatric nurses
Psychological distress
Psychological safety
Psychological trauma
qualitative
Qualitative research
Research design
Research methodology
Social research
Social sciences
Trauma
trauma informed
Vigilance
ISSN:1445-8330, 1447-0349, 1447-0349
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Mental health nurses who engage in research are likely to undertake research on sensitive topics, related to experiences of illness, care delivery and treatment. With recognition of the high prevalence of trauma in the lives of people who interact with mental health services, it is likely that many research participants will have experienced trauma in their lives and that while this may not be the focus of the research, sensitivity and awareness are required. Reference to ‘trauma‐informed’ approaches in research design and practice is emerging in fields such as trauma‐focused research and social sciences; however, it has not yet been applied to nurses. Trauma‐informed approaches can build upon existing ethical and methodological frameworks to inform how mental health nurses go about qualitative research and what they need to consider when doing so. This discursive paper explores some of the implications of awareness and sensitivity to trauma for research undertaken by mental health nurses, including practical and methodological considerations. Recommendations include training and structural supports for nurse researchers, collaborative research designs, consideration of the environments where research occurs, awareness of approaches to distress and inclusion of trauma sensitivity within research policies, frameworks and leadership, alongside vigilance to interpersonal approach and the establishment and protection of psychological safety throughout. Continuing to undertake research on topics, and with people, where trauma is present, is essential to ensure ongoing awareness. Many of the existing skills held by mental health nurses can also support research to be undertaken in trauma‐informed ways.
Bibliography:Funding
None.
Declaration of conflict of interest
ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
content type line 23
ISSN:1445-8330
1447-0349
1447-0349
DOI:10.1111/inm.12914