Exploring Psychiatric Patient Outcomes: A Quantitative Study on In-Person vs. Telehealth Visits Using Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations in Nursing Framework

QUESTION

My PICO question is in psychiatric patients, do telehealth patient visits vs in-person visits improve outcomes within 6 months? Using a theoretical framework is essential in conducting nursing research because findings that are being explored related to the theoretical concepts will enable researchers “to articulate how the study relates to and may potentially advance chosen theory and add to knowledge” (Heale & Noble, 2019, p. 37). Hildegard Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations in Nursing will be integrated with the research in exploring patient outcomes between telehealth patient visits and in-person visits among psychiatric patients. This framework provides evidence-based practice that can minimize the barriers that can affect patient outcomes. If an evidence-based practice is utilized in the research, the true value of telemental health can be revealed in this research.

1. Determine how you will collect your data and what type of research design will best meet your needs (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods).

Patients will be seen both in person and through telemental health methods and patient outcomes will be measured using scales. Patient outcomes should be categorized into specific variables such as symptom improvement, inpatient readmission rate, and mortality. Patient outcome variables are measured by various scales and will be presented as numeric data which is the type of data that is dominated in quantitative methods. Desmet et al (2021) conducted research amongst inpatient psychiatric patients and patient outcome was evaluated via a scale called Mental Health Nurse-Sensitive Patient Outcome-Scale (MH-NURSE-POS) and each variable was evaluated using numbers that reflect patient experience. Therefore, a quantitative approach will best meet my PICOT question and research.

1. Discuss your project idea and the population and setting in which the capstone may/will take place.

My project will focus on evaluating patient experience and patient outcomes via both in-person visits and telemental visits by utilizing Hildegard Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations in Nursing theory. The population will focus on patients of all ages so that barriers can be identified in order to gain knowledge on how to improvise telemental health in the future. Settings will focus on both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric units for in-depth comparison and analysis.

1. What principles of ethics may be particular to your study?

The population focused on this study will be psychiatric patients and they are considered vulnerable populations so ethical principles should be applied cautiously. A study by Solimini et al (2021) illustrated that basic ethical principles include autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence. Patients deserve the truth of this study and a thorough explanation of the purpose of the research conducted regardless of their mental illness status. Each participant will receive no harm in this research and the research conducted is built on evidence-based practice. Informed consent should be obtained according to the setting’s protocol and the research aim should be presented in writing and reviewed by the committee. All participants’ information should remain confidential and proper steps should be added for patients during telemental visits.

References:

Desmet, K., Duprez, V., Deproost, E., Beeckman, D., Goossens, P. J. J., Vandewalle, J., Van Hecke, A., & Verhaeghe, S. (2021). The development and psychometric evaluation of the mental health nurse-sensitive patient outcome-scale (mh-nurse-pos) for inpatient psychiatric hospital settings. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(4), 988-1000. https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12853Links to an external site.

Heale, R., & Noble, H. (2019). Integration of a theoretical framework into your research study. Evidence-Based Nursing, 22(2), 36-37. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebnurs-2019-103077Links to an external site.

Solimini, R., Busardò, F. P., Gibelli, F., Sirignano, A., & Ricci, G. (2021). Ethical and legal challenges of telemedicine in the era of the covid-19 pandemic. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 57(12), 1314. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57121314

ANSWER

Exploring Psychiatric Patient Outcomes: A Quantitative Study on In-Person vs. Telehealth Visits Using Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations in Nursing Framework

Introduction

This research project aims to investigate patient outcomes in psychiatric patients, comparing in-person visits to telehealth visits. Hildegard Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations in Nursing theory will guide the research, focusing on evidence-based practice to identify barriers that may impact patient outcomes. Understanding the effectiveness of telehealth in psychiatric care can contribute to improving mental health services and optimizing patient experiences.

Data Collection and Research Design

The data for this study will be collected through both in-person and telehealth patient visits, evaluating patient outcomes using specific variables such as symptom improvement, inpatient readmission rate, and mortality. Patient experience will be measured using scales to present numeric data, making a quantitative research design most suitable for this PICOT question. Desmet et al. (2021) demonstrated the applicability of this approach in psychiatric inpatient settings, using scales like the Mental Health Nurse-Sensitive Patient Outcome-Scale (MH-NURSE-POS) to assess patient experiences.

Project Idea and Population/Setting

The project’s focus is to evaluate patient outcomes and experiences in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. The population will encompass patients of all ages to comprehensively identify barriers to telemental health implementation. By exploring different settings, this study can gain a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of telehealth interventions across various psychiatric care contexts.

Ethical Principles

Given that psychiatric patients are considered vulnerable populations, ethical considerations are paramount in this study. The principles of autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence will guide the research. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants, ensuring they are well-informed about the study’s purpose and potential risks. Patient confidentiality will be strictly maintained, and ethical guidelines will be followed during telehealth visits to ensure patient safety and well-being (Solimini et al., 2021).

Conclusion

This proposed research project seeks to contribute valuable insights into psychiatric patient outcomes, comparing in-person and telehealth visits through the lens of Peplau’s Interpersonal Relations in Nursing theory. By employing a quantitative research design and adhering to ethical principles, the study aims to provide evidence-based practices that can optimize telemental health interventions and improve patient experiences in psychiatric care. Ultimately, this research has the potential to enhance mental health services and lead to better outcomes for patients.