2009 Press Releases

UCC hosts Nursing and Midwifery Research Conference
01.10.2009

Postnatal depression in first-time mothers, the use of information technology to improve patient care, self-neglect of older adults, ethical issues at end of life care are among the topics which will be discussed at a conference in UCC next week.
The Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery will host the 9th Annual Nursing and Midwifery Research Conference on Friday, October 9th 2009.  Key nursing and midwifery clinical practice issues will be the focus of the conference which will see eminent speakers from a range of clinical and academic settings in Ireland, Scotland & USA share and critically debate the findings of key research with conference attendees.

Dr Patricia Leahy-Warren, Senior Lecturer at UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery will present findings from her recent study on postnatal depression. Dr Leahy-Warren undertook the study with a large number of first-time mothers. The prevalence of postnatal depression was 13% at 6 weeks and 10% at 12 weeks indicating a significant public health issue. The significance of family and friends and health care professionals providing differing functional social supports in positively influencing first-time mothers’ mental health will be presented. This research has been funded by the Health Research Board.

Ms Mary-Rose Day who is a Lecturer at UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery will speak on the serious public health and social issue of self-neglect. This condition can occur across the lifespan but is more common in older people and accounts for approximately 20-25% of cases referred to Adult Protective Services in Ireland. Self-neglect poses many challenges and ethical dilemmas for Senior Case Workers as identified by Ms Day’s research. The research shows that lack of clarity on what constitutes ‘exceptional circumstances’ in cases of self-neglect can be detrimental to clients’ well-being.

“Am I going to die, nurse?”, ethical challenges at the end of life” will be discussed by Dr Joan McCarthy, Lecturer  at UCC’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. Dr McCarthy will present recent research which investigated a range of ethical issues arising in end-of-life care in hospital settings. The research was carried out as part of the Irish Hospice Foundation’s national project, the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme, aimed at improving the culture of care and organization in the areas of dying, death and bereavement in Irish hospitals. The paper specifically addresses the ethical obligations of health professionals in relation to breaking bad news to individuals who are seriously ill. It considers patient narratives drawn from clinical practice in Ireland from an ethical perspective and links them with patient experiences in other countries.

Alongside a dynamic scientific programme, this 2009 conference will include some exciting master classes on Thursday, October 8th in the School of Nursing and Midwifery. ‘Clinical Governance and Patient Safety’ will be facilitated by Dr Kathy Gallo from the US and Professor Joyce Fitzpatrick, also from the US, who will facilitate ‘Clinical Doctorate’ and Professor William Lauder from Scotland who will facilitate ‘self-neglect’. Delegates will represent a number of health care professional disciplines.  

The conference and master classes will take place at the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, UCC; visit http://www.ucc.ie/en/nursingmidwifery/Research/ResearchConferences/

Picture shows L-R: Dr Joan McCarthy, Conference Speaker, Dr Patricia Leahy-Warren, Conference Organiser/Speaker and Ms Mary Rose Day, Conference Speaker/Organiser.

1163MMcS



<<Previous ItemNext Item>>

« Back to 2009 Press Releases

University College Cork

Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh

College Road, Cork T12 K8AF

Top