Reflection on Learning

Research principles oversee scientific researchers' standards of conduct to protect the study participants' dignity, privileges, and well-being. Perse, all studies involving human subjects should be reviewed by an ethics body to ensure applicable ethical values are maintained. Ethics oversight institutions should be independent to safeguard decision making from influence by persons and entities that sponsor and hot research studies (WHO, 2016).

The main aim of human development research is to create evidence to inform progress in guidelines and practice. To understand problems, inform decision-making, and develop practical solutions, development organizations are increasingly using approaches recommended by research where subjects were treated according to the research values and codes stipulated by the Code for Federal Regulation (CFR).

In this paper, I will reflect upon translating a research-based intervention on the treatment of diabetes in adults. Obesity is a significant public health issue despite a large amount of money spent annually on weight loss and maintenance. From a layman understanding, weight loss can be achieved by striking a balance between energy intake and expenditure. According to Lopez-Nava et al. 2015, research was carried out to assess Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) use in treating obesity. Endoscopic stitching for endoluminal gastric volume reduction was done in twenty patients who were discharged after twenty-four hours. Patient monitoring was done in months one, three, and six after the process. The study concluded that ESG is useful in dealing with obesity. Considering this research intervention, I am going to address a few practice concerns.

Potential Benefits of Using ESG in Treatment of Obesity

This procedure leads to significant weight loss (Dayyeh et al., 2017) by limiting the amount of food a person can eat. This procedure is exceptional because it can be done repetitively through a patient's weight management journey. ESG is a negligibly invasive procedure; there are minimal complication risks, and individuals can quickly return to normalcy. People with a Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeding 30 who have failed to lose weight by checking their lifestyle and do not wish to undergo bariatric surgery are encouraged to consider gastric sleeve as an alternative.

Potential Harms of Using ESG in Treatment of Obesity

Just like any other medical procedure, there are probable complications due to ESG. According to Alqahtani et al. 2019, patients experience mild abdominal pain during the first week after an ESG procedure. Other common minor side effects include nausea in the initial days after incision, lethargy due to the medication prescribed to manage the side effects, and heartburn in the lower chest area.

Personal and Professional Values in the Use of ESG

The state of being overweight in an individual has been known to cause psychological problems due to victimization. In adolescents, constant bullying by peers for being obese has caused many youths to commit suicide. As a health care practitioner, I am expected to give clients care based on the professional code of conduct and not my personal beliefs. Aware of my personal opinions as a nurse, there will be conflicting situations between what I feel is right as an individual and what the profession expects of me. I believe that natural methods of weight loss, such as exercising, watching your diet, intermittent fasting, and drinking a lot of water, among other practices, are more suitable for countering obesity. Unless a patient is faced with a life-threatening situation, I recommend these natural methods. On the other hand, the profession requires me to provide available alternatives and allow clients to choose what is best suited for them. Therefore, even though ESG presents minimal complications, it is not my moral duty to advise against the wishes of a person who consciously chooses the procedure.

Objections to the use of ESG

Even though ESG has proven to be effective in weight management for patients with poor behavioral patterns, possible long term effects remain undetermined due to limited study and follow up over an inadequate period. Extensive clinical research is required to eliminate doubts of potential post-procedure risks. There are notably varied results on the outcome of the use of ESG on obese patients. The amount of weight loss in a patient over a time duration varies among individuals, and it becomes difficult to predict the actual amount of weight lost. Finally, patients with underlying conditions such as gastroparesis are not suitable candidates for this procedure.

Overall, with the rising demand for effective ways to treat obesity, Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) has proven satisfactory outcomes. With high approval of this procedure, extraordinary standards of care must be maintained.

References

Alqahtani, A., Al-Darwish, A., Mahmoud, A. E., Alqahtani, Y. A., & Elahmedi, M. (2019). Short-term outcomes of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty in 1000 consecutive patients. Gastrointestinal endoscopy, 89(6), 1132-1138.

Dayyeh, B. K. A., Acosta, A., Camilleri, M., Mundi, M. S., Rajan, E., Topazian, M. D., & Gostout, C. J. (2017). Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty alters gastric physiology and induces loss of body weight in obese individuals. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 15(1), 37-43.

Lopez-Nava, G., Galvão, M. P., da Bautista-Castaño, I., Jimenez, A., De Grado, T., & Fernandez-Corbelle, J. P. (2015). Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty for the treatment of obesity. Endoscopy, 47(05), 449-452.

World Health Organization, & Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences. (2016). International ethical guidelines for health-related research involving humans.