Research Problem and Research Purpose

Research Problem and Research Purpose

The essence of evidence-based practice (EBP) in the nursing sector cannot be underestimated. EBP refers to a problem-solving approach that incorporates credible pieces of evidence from studies by nursing experts. In addition, this approach incorporates the expertise of care personnel and the preferences and values of the patient when making care decisions. By adopting this approach, caregivers can make confident decisions whose applicability can be verified and accredited. One area that EBP can be applied is in the surgical settings for nurses to minimize the effects of surgical smoke plumes. The purpose of this paper is to formulate a research problem and research purpose on the topic of using EBP in the perioperative setting to safeguard the health of all personnel working in that environment.

Problem Statement

Surgical smoke plume refers to the by-product that is produced in operation rooms due to the use of such devices are electro-surgical pencils lasers, and ultrasonic devices, among others. These devices cause vaporization of tissues and blood, leading to the production of a gaseous substance. Around 95% of all procedures in the operating room lead to the production of the plume (Bree, Barnhill, & Rundell, 2017). On a different note, surgical smoke is dangerous due to its biological, chemical, and physical components. The plume contains over 80 toxic chemicals, which include benzene, toluene, and hydrogen cyanide (Karjalainen et al., 2018). Carbon dioxide can cause nausea and headaches, which biological matter can cause infectious diseases. Particulate matter, on the other hand, can cause respiratory diseases such as bronchiolitis and damage to the respiratory tract.

Elimination of surgical smoke is critical to note only combating the risk of the above conditions but also due to other additional factors. First, the smoke interferes with the visual clarity of the operating room, which slows surgical time, increasing the likelihood of complications. Second, aerosols remove often reduce accumulation on camera lenses. Third, surgical smoke can be devastating to the patient, causing severe consequences (Chavis, Wagner, Becker, Bowerman, & Jamias, 2016). Finally, the health of medical works can be compromised by this smoke, causing such conditions as dizziness and headaches, and thus, inhibiting their ability to function at optimal levels.

Research Questions

The overarching research question is, ”how can healthcare facilities use evidence-based practice to minimize exposure to surgical plume in the perioperative setting?”

Exploration of the above stated main objective will be done by answering a set of specific research questions. Which are outline below, but subject to change as the evidence-based research proceeds.

1. What are the adverse effects of the surgical smoke plume?
2. What bundle of strategies can facilities adopt to reduce exposure to surgical smoke plume?
3. How do the interventions reflect EBP?

Purpose of the Research

The research will essentially seek to explore the most effective bundle of interventions that facilities can adopt in operating rooms based on EBP. As such, the study will focus on past pieces of literature as evidence in regards to the interventions that work and those that do not work. In other words, peer-reviewed journal articles will act as the basis for the adoption of an intervention based on its implications in other facilities and settings. As such, the research will provide a framework that hospitals can use in the operating rooms to make the environment safer for both the medical personnel and the patient.

References

Bree, K., Barnhill, S., & Rundell, W. (2017). The dangers of electrosurgical smoke to operating room personnel: A review. Workplace Health & Safety, 65(11), 517–526. doi: 10.1177/2165079917691063.

Chavis, S., Wagner, V., Becker, M., Bowerman, M. I., & Jamias, M. S. (2016). Clearing the air about surgical smoke: An education program. AORN Journal, 103(3), 289–296. doi: 10.1016/j.aorn.2016.01.007.

Karjalainen, M., Kontunen, A., Saari, S., Rönkkö, T., Lekkala, J., Roine, A., & Oksala, N. (2018). The characterization of surgical smoke from various tissues and its implications for occupational safety. Plos One, 13(4). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195274.