Ethics
The definition of ethics according LoBiondo-Wood, Haber, Cameron & Singh, (2013), is “the theory or discipline dealing with principles of moral values and moral conduct” (p. 571). Ethics in nursing research is important because while trying to reveal what is unknown, the researchers may be putting the participants at risk, therefore, it is important to protect and respect the participant while conducting research (Canadian Institutes of Health Research et al., 2014). Ethics is of importance to ensure the respect for human dignity, their values and understanding their suffering (Kalb & O’Conner-Von, 2007). The three core principles that will be guiding the research study include: respect for persons, justice and concern for welfare. Respect for persons involves respecting a participant’s autonomy (Canadian Institutes of Health Research et al., 2014). The participants will have a right to their opinion and their connections to their community, culture and religious affiliations will be respected (Canadian Institutes of Health Research et al., 2014). Justice is put in place to ensure that the participants are treated fairly and equitable (Canadian Institutes of Health Research et al., 2014). Concern for welfare is to ensure that the participants privacy and information about the participant are protected and that consent is obtained (Canadian Institutes of Health Research et al., 2014). Concern for welfare is also put in place so that researchers can promote the welfare of the participants and provide the participants with adequate information to be able to assess the risks and benefits of participating in the research (Canadian Institutes of Health Research et al., 2014).
https://www.reactgroup.org/news-and-views/news-and-opinions/year-2017/the-ethics-of-antibiotic-resistance/
This qualitative phenomenological research study will consist of 100 Northern Ontarian men between the ages of 25 to 35 with the diagnosis of postpartum depression (PPD). Exclusion criteria for the study are men who have not been diagnosed with PPD, men who are not within the age parameter of 25 to 35 years of age, men who are unable to speak English or French, and females. To recruit volunteers for this study, information will be provided and posted in doctor and nurse practitioner clinics, hospitals, online and radio advertising. To gather information, there will be 10 focus groups under study that will consist of 10 men per group. To respect participant autonomy, each participant will be given adequate information to decide to participate in the study, the recruitment is on a volunteer basis and participants will be advised that they can withdraw from the study at anytime and that their information will be protected and no longer used in the study if they choose to withdraw. Once each participant is provided with adequate information and has agreed to participate in the study, they will be provided with and asked to sign a written consent form agreeing to their participation in the study. In order to ensure participant confidentiality, each participant will be appointed an identification code that will be used in replacement of their names. All participants, researchers, and therapists involved in the study will sign confidentiality and privacy agreements to promote the safety and privacy of the participants. In order to respect the vulnerable population involved in the research study, all participants will be made aware that the focus groups are safe areas to talk and information will not be shared outside of the focus group. Before discussion occurs in each focus group, the researcher will read a disclaimer reminding the participants, therapists and other researchers that they have signed confidentiality and privacy agreements, and they must respect those terms and each other. The group sessions will be audio recorded and then transcribed at a later time. After information is collected during the focus groups, it will be stored on a secured computer that can only be accessed by specific researchers who have been provided with the password to the computer. This computer will be stored in a locked room. After each session, participants will be given the opportunity to speak with a registered therapist to ensure the welfare of each participant. Justice will be addressed throughout the study by providing adequate education to each researcher on the power of their position and the relationship with the participant; it is important that the participant does not feel an imbalance in power between the researcher and themselves as they may not feel safe or respected. To respect each participant in the study, their autonomy, religious, social and cultural affiliation will be respected.
The aim of this research study is to determine the psycho-social and environmental causative factors of PPD in Northern Ontarian men. This study will also help identify possible treatments and nursing care strategies for men with PPD. PPD in fathers is an issue that is not commonly recognized, however four to twenty-five percent of new fathers develop PPD within the first year of the post-partum period (Stadtlander, 2015). Some literature discusses how paternal PPD could be caused by changes in the father’s testosterone level; testosterone levels tend to decrease throughout his partners pregnancy and throughout the postpartum period (Stadtlander, 2015), however, there is still a gap in the research in relation to the psycho-social and environmental causes of PPD. This research study is important because literature indicates that paternal PPD has an increased risk for family stress, a lack of parent and infant bonding, and psychopathology in the child such as hyperactivity, emotional problems and conduct disorder (Stadtlander, 2015). If causes can be identified then further treatment and management options can be developed.
References
Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. (December 2014). Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. Retrieved from: http://www.pre.ethics.gc.ca/pdf/eng/tcps2-2014/TCPS_2_FINAL_Web.pdf
Kalb, K. A., & O’Conner-Von, S. (2007). Ethics education in advanced practice nursing: Respect for human dignity. Nursing Education Perspectives, 28(4), 196-202. Retrieved from http://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=cambrian&url=?url=https://search-proquest-com.eztest.ocls.ca/docview/236644984?accountid=26528
LoBiondo-Wood, G., Haber, J., Cameron, C., & Singh, M.D. (2013). Nursing research in Canada: Methods, critical appraisal, and utilization (3rd Edition). Toronto, Canada: Mosby/Elsevier.
Stadtlander, L., PhD. (2015). Paternal postpartum depression. International Journal of Childbirth Education, 30(2), 11-13. Retrieved from http://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=cambrian&url=?url=https://search-proquest.com.eztest.ocls.ca/docview/1677665911?accountid=26528
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