Journal Club Assignment, Article Critique Example

Three top weaknesses include

• The research focused a small sample
• The design used has not been brought out clearly
• It uses quota sampling associated with bias

The strengths include

• It gives results which if used in nursing homes would be effective for patients with elevated levels of risk in pressure ulcers
• The study was based in a nursing home where the problems of pressure ulcers prevail

Journal Club Assignment

Problem statement: B., Richard (2007) gives the problem as a lack of high-quality conclusive research evidence able to identify a support surface, which is appropriate for patients with high probability of pressure ulcers development.

Purpose statement: the purpose of research is not clear as the author mentions that the aim was “not to compare but to observe the effectiveness of the product being used in the chosen situation”.

Significance and relevance to nursing

Pressure ulcers affect many people in the world and for patients it worsens their condition and thus complicating the care given them in nursing homes. Conducting research on the prevention of pressure ulcers thus proves significant and this can even involve research on the kind of mattresses that could be safe for patients suffering from the condition.

Feasible to conduct?

The study was feasible to conduct because the researcher made the first step by obtaining ethical approval from the NHS Trust Research and Development process and from the Local Research ethics Committee. The author also took consideration of consent by asking participants for written consent or relatives consented for them in case of they were not able. According to the study, participants could withdraw at any time or family members could withdraw them. The study was also feasible because it received funding from Sidhil Ltd., the company that manufactured the mattresses.

Variables

• identify the major study variables (independent, dependent, or research)

Pressure ulcer development

Mattress overlay

Mattress overlay

Replacement mattress

• are the major variables defined (conceptually and operationally) based on previous research and/or theories

No definition of these variables based on previous research was done. The variables are just mentioned. The author informs us that there is a lack of conclusive research with evidence to identify the link patients with pressure ulcer vulnerability and the most appropriate support surface.

• Is the conceptual definition of a variable consistent with the operational definition?

No. conceptual definition of a variable is not consistent with the operational definition because conceptual definition is expressed in theoretical, general, subjective or qualitative terms while operational variable definition tells operational terms used in measuring the variables.

• What demographic variables are in the study?

Demographic variables in the research included nursing home residents aged between 64-97 years, who were at the nursing home from 1 to 983 days. Other demographic variables such as gender and race are not mentioned. Medical conditions of the subjects mentioned included stroke, type 2 diabetes, bowel cancer, lung cancer, heart failure, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, dementia and lung disease.

• Sample: (18 pts. Total/3 for correct type)
• a) Are the inclusion and exclusion sample criteria described?

Yes. The inclusion criteria recruited patients if they met the following:

• Ability to give informed written consent or nurse’s plus relatives
• Over 18 years of age
• High probability of patient remaining with risk elevated thus possibility of pressure ulcer development

Exclusion criteria involved

• Inability of tolerating changing surfaces of support
• Spinal fractures with instability
• Compliant patients
• did the researchers indicate the method used to obtain the sample? What type of sampling method is it?

Yes. They used inclusion and exclusion criteria. This kind of sampling is known as quota sampling.

Is the sampling method adequate to produce a sample that is representative of the study population? No. the author even mentions that the research has limitations in that the sample size was small.

• What are the potential biases with this type of sampling?

Identify the sample size and indicate

it is a non-random approach and it has bias because the researchers concentrate on those people who they think will prove useful in the study

• Measurement methods:
• a) Are the physiological measures/instruments/tools clearly described? Yes. The research attempts to link the study with risk factors such as one suffering from type two diabetes.
• Are the techniques to administer complete, and score (or accuracy and precision) the instruments provided? No
• Are the reliability and validity of the instruments described? Did the researcher examine reliability and validity of the instruments for the present sample?

Validity and reliability of instruments are not described. The researcher did not examine reliability and validity of the instruments. if the instrument was developed for the study, is the instrument development process described? No. Instrument development process lacks in the study. Are the methods for recording data from physiological measures clearly described? Yes. The author uses tables to present the results.

• Data collection
• Is the data collection process clearly described and consistently implemented? No. Data collection process is not clearly described.
• Is the training of data collectors clearly described and adequate (inter rater, reliability IRR)? No. In the study, there is no mention of training of data collectors. The author independently accomplished the work alone.
• Do the data collection methods address the research objectives, questions, or hypotheses? No. The research approach does not have clear research objectives, questions, or hypotheses.
• Data analysis
• a) The data analysis address each question, hypothesis or objective and thus it is significant
• b) The research report includes risk factors associated with pressure ulcers. The data analysis procedures are appropriate to the type of data collected.
• c) Yes, results presentation is understood and the report uses tables in synthesis of the findings.
• Evaluation
• a) No. The findings cannot resemble any previous findings thus this is a weakness for the research.
• b) I am not confident in these findings because the research presents a lack in the design used.
• c) These findings contribute knowledge in nursing, although, it lacks backing by other research works.
• d) These findings are not ready for application and thus more should be researched.

Reference

Buckland, R. (2006). Evaluating two dynamic mattresses in a nursing home setting. British Journal of Nursing. Vol.15, (15), p.604-608.