Research write up for publication in a UK nursing journal from an Essay

Research write up for publication in a UK nursing journal from an already written disertation - Essay Example Methods: An ethnographic approach was the basis of the research undertaken. This approach allows an understanding from an insider’s perspective that focuses on the interactions that occur and lead to the assessment of hand washing. In keeping with the requirements of the approach a sampling plan was devised. Intrusive data collection methods were eliminated from use. Four care homes from within two primary care trusts were selected from the care homes that volunteered for the study. The sampling process for participants was the same for each of the four participating care homes. The participants included both qualified nursing staff and care assistants. Observation and interviews were the means by which data was collected. Domain analysis, taxonomic analysis, componential analysis and theme analysis was used to analyse the data collected. Findings: Management styles had a significant impact on the socio-cultural influence on the decisions with regard to hand washing. Where management styles were authoritative and interfered in all aspects of the functioning, thus reducing the autonomy of the nursing staff there was a negative impact on the socio-cultural influences and thereby a negative attitude towards hand washing. Where the management styles offered greater autonomy in the functioning of the nursing staff and encouraged discussions on hand washing a positive impact on the socio-cultural influences was clearly visible and accordingly a higher importance given to hand washing. Conclusions: Lack of motivation is not the reason for health care workers not performing hand decontamination risk assessment. It is the social and cultural environment that the health care worker is in that decides the performance of hand decontamination risk assessment. The more amenable the environment the more favourable the impact upon the ability to perform the decision