Page 138 - GHES-2-3

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Nurses’ perceived affective well-being at work

were also students enrolled in postgraduate courses at a Consequently, there is a reduced likelihood of the
university. researchers inadvertently biasing the data with their own
ideas, as they become more cognizant of their thought
2.3. Inclusion and exclusion criteria processes. This approach aims to uphold and maintain

Participants met the following inclusion criteria: the active presence of “the voice of the participants”
(i) Registered nurses working either full-time or part- throughout data collection and analysis.
time, (ii) with at least 1 year of experience in their current
job, and (iii) who were enrolled in a postgraduate module 2.7. Data collection
or course at the university. None of the researchers were The integration of data from Groups A, B, and C involved
involved in the delivery of those courses or modules. The analyzing and examining interviews through bracketing
researcher visited the participants in class at the end of and line numbering directly on the transcripts. This process
their lesson and explained the aims of the study. was followed by annotating notes and grouping common
words and sentences (Love et al., 2020; Palmer et al., 2010).
2.4. Characteristics of participants
Group A comprised 14 junior nurses with work experience
Participants were postgraduate students enrolled in a ranging from 2 to 6 years. Group B consisted of 14
course or module at a British University in London, while experienced nurses with seven to 12 years of service, many
also working at local and regional hospitals and clinics. of whom held senior nursing and managerial positions.
Among the total participants, 33 nurses (86.8%) were Group C comprised nine highly experienced nurses in
female, and five nurses (13.2%) were male. The average age senior management roles, with work experience ranging
of the nurses was 37 years (standard deviation [SD] = 9), from 21 to 25 years. In total, three discussion groups were
with an average of 13 years of work experience (mean = 13, conducted, and excerpts from these sessions are referenced
median = 10, SD = 10). in Appendices A1 and A2.

2.5. Ethical considerations The researcher anticipated several challenges and
planned accordingly, including ensuring that: (i) Nurses
Ethical clearance for this study was obtained from the were respectful of each other’s views and particularly
Middlesex University’s Research Ethics Committee with managing those with a tendency to be more vocal;
an approval ID of Ref. No 06/Q0504/59. Participants were (ii) participants felt safe to share their true perspectives;
thoroughly briefed on issues of consent, anonymity, and and (iii) the groups behaved in a professional fashion
confidentiality related to the research. They were assured during this process, with strong feelings around the issues
that their involvement was voluntary and that their identities being appropriately managed and diffused. With the help
would remain confidential and anonymous. Discussions of another interviewer and an IPA expert, the researchers
were recorded, transcribed, anonymized, and analyzed by
two experts in interpretative phenomenological analysis monitored group dynamics and carefully managed nurses’
expectations and feelings to swiftly de-escalate potential
(IPA) who had received training in the methodology clashes among participants.
(Please refer to Appendices A1 and A2).
To ensure a smooth operation of the discussion groups,
2.6. Rigor and reflexivity the interview guide was piloted twice to check for leading
During data analysis, the method of bracketing was or confusing questions and to ensure that the questions
employed, enabling the researchers to openly contemplate were clear, relevant, and coherent. Minimal modifications
and reflect on the ideas and experiences conveyed in were required for some of the opening questions. With
the data. This approach also allowed the researchers to participants’ consent, the interviews were recorded
consider their own views and perspectives on the issues at and transcribed. Furthermore, one of the interviewers
hand (Dodgson, 2019; Dunning et al., 2021). Bracketing maintained field notes throughout the discussions. These
serves a dual purpose: it helps differentiate the researchers’ notes were useful in recounting the conversations held
thoughts from those expressed by participants, while also between the interviewer and the group and served as an
facilitating the clarification of the researchers’ own ideas, aide-memoir for the interviewer’s self-reflections and
thoughts, and feelings. This approach enables a more observations made at the time of the interview. Each
meaningful reflection and reconsideration of participants’ interview lasted between 45 min and 60 min, with a
narratives, as the researchers consciously engage with their mean duration of 55 min. The study spanned 7 months,
own thoughts and values. This heightened awareness on during which no follow-up interviews were conducted.
the part of the researchers has the potential to enhance Participants were given the chance to review the transcripts
the credibility and reliability of the data during analysis. within 6 weeks of their interviews.

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 3 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3012