A model to enhance the empowerment of professional nurses to promote the recovery of people who have been diagnosed with depression

Abstract

The purpose of this research study is to develop and describe a model to enhance the empowerment professional nurses to promote the recovery of people who have been diagnosed with depression. Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder that despite its increase worldwide, often goes undetected or inadequately treated. The biomedical model's reductionist and dualistic approach proves to be inadequate for nursing practice to address depression and calls for the examination of a multifaceted holistic approach. A multifaceted holistic approach views disease as having multiple causes that are amenable to multiple therapeutic interventions. Despite research evidence about the effectiveness of such an approach, an in-dept literature search did not reveal the availability of such a model to enhance the empowerment of professional nurses to promote the recovery of people who have been diagnosed with depression. The research question that emerged was: • How can professional nurses in the Western Cape be empowered to promote the recovery of people who have been diagnosed with depression? The assumption is that this question was necessary to address. To realise the purpose of this research study, the following objectives were formulated: • To explore and describe the self reported attributes needed by professional nurses to promote the recovery of people who have been diagnosed with depression. • To explore and describe how these self reported attributes can be facilitated in the work environment. • To propose a model to enhance the empowerment of professional nurses to promote the recovery of people who have been diagnosed with depression. • To develop guidelines for the operationalisation of the model. The theoretical framework for this research study was adopted from the Critical Social Theory. The research design and method used was qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature. The research was done in two phases. In phase one the researcher did semi- structured interviews with a purposive and convenient sample of fourteen (14) professional nurses who were working in the Cape Town Metropolitan area and the West Coast. Each interview was transcribed from the tape recordings, verbatim and open coding was used to identify and analyse the content. In phase two the model was designed based on the findings of phase one. The six components, namely goals, concepts, definitions, relationships, structure and assumptions as described by Chinn and Jacobs, were used to develop the model. The guidelines for critical reflection as described by Chinn and Kramer were used to evaluate the model. A purposive sample that consisted of a group of psychiatric nurse specialists was asked to validate the model during a group discussion. As a result of their daily interaction with people who have been diagnosed with depression, professional nurses identified increased workload, lack of professional development and a lack of organizational support as barriers to implement the identified attributes support, positive approach, interpersonal skills and awareness of structure to promote the characteristics of the recovery approach. After the data analysis an empowerment model that would support professional nurses to promote a recovery approach in their working environments was developed. To ensure trustworthiness, Lincoln and Guba's model was used throughout the study. Ethical considerations were maintained throughout this qualitative research study.