Patient and nurse collaboration in decision-making concerning long-term management of a newly formed colostomy

Abstract

This study included three projects which investigated aspects of decision-making in a nursing context. The specific decision studied concerned selection of a long term management strategy for use by a patient with a newly fashioned colostomy. Literature reviewed reveals debate about the extent to which patients should participate in decisions about their health care, but ongoing work using the Autonomy Preference Index provides an argument for partnerships in decision-making between patients and health care professionals. This research contributed to the knowledge base in stomal therapy nursing, decision theory, collaborative practice in nusing, assessment of patient satisfaction and health communication theory. The clinical implications and applications of the findings are far reaching because of the pervasiveness of patient decision-making in nursing practice

Date of Award	1997
Original language	English