Reflexive account of unintended outcomes from spiritual care qualitative research

This paper presents a discussion of the reflexive accounts of research experience of the author when conducting data collection and analysis of an investigation into spirituality and culture in nurse education. Aims: To offer insights into the unintended outcomes of research and personal transformation that may occur as a consequence of the research. Background: Whilst extensive qualitative research prevails in nursing and nurse education, with some making a significant impact upon the practice and epistemology of nursing, reflexive accounts of unintended outcomes of research are rather scanty in the literature. Data Sources: This paper draws on the reflective diary and field notes maintained by the researcher throughout the trajectory of the research involving a series of studies into spiritual care in nurse education. Discussion: Reflective frameworks offer opportunities for honest reflexive accounts which may be quite revealing. The paper illuminates some salient features of unintended outcomes of the research involving participants who shared narratives of coping mechanisms using spiritual resources as they faced critical junctures such as illness in their lives. Conclusion: The encounters between the researcher and the participants could lead to transformation and growth for both. Implications for practice: Reflexive accounts of unintended outcomes should be integral to the qualitative research process and they could be transformative for both the researcher and the participants. The reflections on the unintended outcomes may provide valuable insights into patients' experiences in order to produce a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomena being investigated. Summary statement What is already known about this topic: Qualitative research produces rich and dense data impacting nursing. Qualitative research contributes to the epistemology of nursing. Reflexive accounts shed valuable insights about the qualitative research process. What this paper adds: A structured approach to reflexive accounts may produce some interesting insights into the research process related to spirituality studies addressed in this paper. Unintended outcomes of spirituality research could be identified and theorised as integral to the whole research. Researchers need to invest time and attention into the unintended outcomes of research as they could be transformative for both the researcher and participants.. Implications for practice and/or policy. Reflexive accounts and unintended outcomes of research could be valuable for the researchers and participants' transformation and growth. Further theories may evolve from unintended outcomes of research adding further insights into the unpredictable dimensions of humanity.