Mitral valve prolapse and its effects: a programme of inquiry within Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing.

The optimum growth and scientific progress of nursing knowledge during the next century will depend upon the development and execution of focused programmes of clinical and theoretical research. The planning and design of such programmes must originate with the clear definition of nursing research questions. Nesting such questions within established theoretical frameworks provides a nursing context, lends precise language and suggests relevant variables for study. The development of a sequence of related studies exploring and describing the self-care needs of people with symptomatic mitral valve prolapse illustrates one such systematic research programme. Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing was used as a theoretical framework for four completed studies which describe one population's need for nursing assistance. The evolving nature of the research programme and plans for future research are discussed.