Critical Research Appraisal Assignment

Sample Answer

New research studies may benefit from the critical evaluation of previously published research publications. Clinicians may also benefit from this tool as they seek to enhance the quality of their services by basing patient care decisions on the most recent and robust evidence (Chun Tie et al., 2019). Therefore, physicians need to know research techniques to develop and administer trustworthy quality assurance procedures. The purpose of this study is to provide a framework for critical evaluation that is pertinent to healthcare professionals engaged in clinical research.

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research is undertaken to gain a deeper understanding of real-world challenges. It is word-based rather than numerical, as well as realistic and open-ended (Chun Tie et al., 2019). Many approaches, including grounded theory, phenomenology, and ethnography, are used in qualitative research. Extensive interviews with experiencers are essential to phenomenology, but shared experiences are taken for granted in the story. The phenomenological investigation is critical for new situations with limited previous evidence.

The health of a patient population in a certain place is examined through the lens of cultural knowledge, norms, beliefs, and other environmental elements via ethnographic investigations. Comprehending is facilitated by qualitative research, and insight is provided by subjective data. Expenses and misinformation are two of the major drawbacks of qualitative data. Qualitative research methods aid nurses in providing comprehensive responses to study questions and in shaping healthcare policy and practice.

The Study, Sampling, Data Collection, Analysis, Rigor, Findings, and Limitations

Ethical patient participation in nursing clinical care was the focus of a qualitative case study by Glasdam et al. (2020). This case study methodology was informed by the authors’ anthropological field research conducted in Denmark between 2010 and 2016 on the palliative care needs of patients with advanced cancer. Confidentiality, permission, and the use of human subjects are all concerns when conducting qualitative research. The authors obtained approval from the Danish Data Protection Agency and used pre-trial informed consent under the Helsinki Declaration.

Purposeful sampling was used to recruit patients with advanced cancer from oncology wards, palliative care units, hospital medical wards, a cancer rehabilitation center, and an ethnic minority cancer support group. Information was gathered through interviews and observations to highlight and investigate the role of patients in clinical nursing care.

The study’s authors were curious about the experiences and perspectives of patients receiving palliative care from nurses. Glasdam and colleagues conducted a case study of patient participation in clinical settings, using observations and interviews as data collection methods; the article was peer-reviewed; the methods used in the study were explained in detail; and an audit trail was provided to ensure the study’s reliability and validity.

The findings highlight how nurses may unintentionally exclude patients from the nursing process and the potential ethical and practical implications of such exclusion in palliative care. To make their findings generalizable, Glasdam and colleagues provide details about the study’s settings, participants, recruitment, and participant quotes.

Quantitative Research

Quantitative approaches investigate events in great depth. Quantitative studies employ unbiased measures to answer issues. Scientists organize variables, topics, and surroundings. Hypotheses are required for quantitative investigations. The quantitative study might give insight into the factors that contribute to nurse discontent, turnover, and burnout. In epidemiological and observational research, there is a connection between exposure and outcome (Ranganathan & Aggarwal, 2018). Experimental or quasi-controlled investigations are the foundation of quantitative research. Two-group randomization must be used in experiments. In quasi-experiments, no randomization is necessary.

Researchers may use a quasi-experimental approach to assess how effectively an intervention works (Ranganathan & Aggarwal, 2018). Quantitative research employs both descriptive and inferential statistics. Statisticians describe information using numbers. They are capable of calculating the mean, standard deviation, and even distribution. Extrapolation is constantly used in quantitative research. To evaluate large datasets, inferential statistics must be used. Inferential statistics use data from samples to make predictions about populations, while descriptive statistics explain the facts.

The Study

Mateo-Ortega et al. (2018) conducted a quantitative study titled “Effectiveness of Psychosocial Interventions in Complex Palliative Care Patients” to see if specific psychosocial interventions could alleviate the discomfort of palliative care patients, particularly those with high emotional distress and pain. The study used quasi-experimental methodologies. Without a control group, complex patients with terminal or severe illnesses received psychological therapy. The study used pre- and post-intervention modifications to determine the intervention’s effectiveness.

Sampling

To eliminate bias and guarantee validity, Mateo-Ortega et al. (2018) used blinding and randomization. The absence of strategies to reduce bias in quasi-experimental studies makes randomization an unlikely tool for establishing reliability. Ethics for quantitative research includes criteria for selecting and including subjects to ensure a sound methodology. Human subject research needs informed consent, and a stratified sample can tell difficult situations apart from others. For 12 months, all patients under the care of a dedicated PST had their complex psychosocial needs assessed.

Data Collection

PST professionals gathered information via semi-structured, regular clinical interviews. The DED Scale investigated mood, anxiety, and emotional distress before and after intervention (VNRS). Data gathering instruments have been verified and shown to be dependable. Validity evaluates whether the measuring equipment meets the study objectives and functions appropriately. Measuring equipment reliability is determined by consistency. Mateo-Ortega et al. (2018) used VNRS to evaluate psychosocial therapies for difficult palliative patients.

The authors noted how earlier studies assessed anxiety, mood, and distress to establish dependability. The authors discuss how they analyzed factors using VNRS tools to make the study repeatable. The study’s legitimacy is ensured by its validity and reliability.

Data Analysis

Mateo-Ortega et al. (2018) use multilevel regression to assess anxiety, mood, and distress data. Researchers may use multilevel regression analysis to study hierarchical quantitative data, comprising variables collected at different hierarchies, and assess cluster associations. All statistical operations are conducted at the ratio level, including SD, significance level, constant, mean baseline score, and percentages. The authors examined the relationship between psychosocial intervention and anxiety, mood, and emotional distress using multi-level regression analysis.

Findings and Limitations

Psychosocial interventions improved palliative care patients’ mood by 13%, anxiety by 38%, and distress by 9.8%. Mateo-Ortega et al. (2018) obtain credibility by demonstrating the validity and dependability of their work. For example, they use VNRS to assess anxiety, mood, and emotional stress before and after the psychosocial intervention to see whether psychosocial treatments reduce suffering in complex palliative care patients, thereby establishing the study’s validity. The VNRS accurately measured the study variables, demonstrating their utility.

Conclusion

Readers may improve their critical thinking skills by learning what to look for in research papers. This discussion addresses the principles of quantitative and qualitative research and critical assessment. Despite their diverse techniques, both types of research have significant parallels. Both must have a clear research objective that addresses the research question(s) and an approved study design.

References

• Chun Tie, Y., Birks, M., & Francis, K. (2019). Grounded Theory research a Design Framework for Novice Researchers. SAGE Open Medicine, 7(1). https //doi.org/10.1177/2050312118822927
• Glasdam, S., Jacobsen, C. B., & Boelsbjerg, H. B. (2020). Nurses’ refusals of patient involvement in their palliative care. Nursing Ethics, 27(8), 1618–1630. https //doi.org/10.1177/0969733020929062
• Mateo-Ortega, D., Gómez-Batiste, X., Maté, J., Beas, E., Ela, S., Lasmarias, C., & Limonero, J. T. (2018). Effectiveness of Psychosocial Interventions in Complex Palliative Care Patients A Quasi-Experimental, Prospective, Multicenter Study. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 21(6), 802–808. https //doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2017.0355
• Ranganathan, P., & Aggarwal, R. (2018). Study designs Part 1 – An overview and classification. Perspectives in Clinical Research, 9(4), 184–186. https //doi.org/10.4103/picr.PICR_124_18