This is by far, the most complicated form of qualitative research I have come across yet. It is fascinating to learn and see how much more information can be drawn from research by Discourse Analysis. It is a method used to analyse communication patterns, either from one to one communication or larger focus groups. Whilst discussing this recently, it was described as reading in between the lines- focusing not on what is said but how it is said- a method that enabled meanings and motives to be uncovered.
Two words came to light when describing discourse analysis; these were ontological- the philosophical study of the basic categories of being and the study of the nature of being, and epistemological- knowledge by description. This helped to further understand this form of research.
The paper was ‘How nurses understand and care for older people with delirium in the acute hospital: a critical discourse analysis’. It brings an awareness of what was described by the author as ‘taken for granted aspects of clinical practice’- and that these aspects can therefore be less addressed, less researched and less improved.
The researchers sought to look into how nurses understood delirium and how they responded to patients in clinical settings. It is interesting to see research into attitudes and nursing care/observation of confused patients, challenges, sedation, and an analysis of why certain decisions are made about care giving and maintaining safety. It has helped me to understand why clinical decisions are being made in this type of situation, and the importance of these decisions- to ensure they are ethical and to understand how nursing care can be improved.
