Research Methodology

Research Locale. The research was conducted in a tertiary hospital along F. Ramos

Street, Cebu City – the Cebu (Velez) General Hospital. This private hospital with a 200-bed

capacity caters to different cases under the departments of surgery, EENT, family medicine,

pediatrics, internal medicine, and obstetrics-gynecology. It is also a training hospital for Velez

College – College of Nursing and Cebu Institute of Medicine. Specifically, the study was

conducted in the hospital’s private pavilion south wing third floor – a 10-bed unit that provides

care to various cases. In every 8-hour shift, 1 to 2 staff nurses man the said area. More

particularly, the subject under study was confined in room 103 of the said area.

Research Design. The researcher made use of the case study method, a form of

qualitative research in-depth investigation of a person, group, institution or other social units. It

attempts to analyze and understand the variables that are important to the history development or

care of the subject or the subject’s problems (Polit & Hungler, 1993). Furthermore, the case

study design used is a single-case design that is intended to represent a critical test to existing

theory. The levels of analysis used are factual, interpretative and evaluative with the single

patient as the unit of analysis.

Research Instrument. The main means utilized to collect the data was an assessment

tool, based on Velez College – College of Nursing Comprehensive Adult Health History and

Assessment Form, and Pediatric Tool. The tool was utilized to gather health data reflecting

perceptual, operational, and conceptual environment during the three day care. The North

American Nursing Diagnostic Association’s Domains were adapted to obtain information

regarding health patterns instead of the Gordon’s Functional Health Pattern because it is more

comprehensive and it included the patterns of growth and development, and comfort. Since the
Domains seek for patterns of human interaction with the environment, the researchers related it

to Levine’s conceptual environmental response. The physical examination, and laboratory and

diagnostic findings reflected the perceptual and operational environment, in such a way that the

manifestations and laboratory results will signify that a change in the environment can occur

resulting to the imbalance or balance of the wholeness of an individual.

Research Data Gathering Procedure. The initial step was for the researchers to identify

a case to focus on for the study. A nursing theory fit for the case was then chosen. The

researchers then engaged in a clinical practicum from May 7-9, 2010. The researchers started to

make a case study report. Included in the said paper are the rationales for the chosen case, the

statement of the problem, the significance of the study, significant assessment report, among

others. Since a qualitative study was conducted, the researchers used various techniques during

the data collection. Throughout the course of patient care, a series of semi-structured observation

and interviews were conducted making use of the theory-based assessment tool as an instrument

to gather data about the client’s health history. Constant validation with the patient and

significant others was done to ensure accuracy of subjective data gathered. Observation was done

to assess for client’s non-verbal cues as well as in obtaining data for physical examination

relevant to each activity of living. Physical assessment techniques such as inspection, palpation,

percussion, and auscultation were employed in gathering objective data. The researchers also

obtained data from the patient’s records in the chart such as results of laboratory and diagnostic

tests. Analysis of data was done with the aid of reliable published sources of information. A

presentation of the case study was consequently done before the clinical instructors.