Prediction of Emergent Heart Failure Death, Article Critique Example

Title

The title “Prediction of Emergent Heart Failure Death by Semi-Quantitative Triage Risk Stratification” reflected the article’s content accurately and was relevant to the research study. It clearly identifies what the research study is all about.

Abstract

The abstract of the article was brief, concise and gave a clear explanation of the whole article. The abstract briefly and concisely addressed the research study type, size of the sample, the variables, methodology, results/findings, discussion of the findings including ethics and conclusion. All these were mentioned in one brief paragraph.

Credentials of the authors

All the six authors are well educated with at least masters (degree) in health science or nursing related field. They are well experienced and working in health institutes of universities, clinical evaluation institutes, health centers, public health schools and health hospitals. With such a background, it is clear that the authors’ ability to do the research is well supported.

Style and organization

The layout of the report is well organized with clear and detailed explanations in the literature review section, methodology, results and discussion of the research findings. The writing style employed in the article is exactly consistent with the requirements of a journal where by every section is grouped on its own starting with the title, acknowledgment/declaration, abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion and  references (Rouleau, et al., 2003).

Purpose of the study

The purpose of the study was clearly stated in the article. The purpose was to carry out an evaluation of “Canadian Triangle Acuity Scale (CTAS)” in order to predict early deaths among patients with heart failure.

Problem

The problem under study was not clearly stated or mentioned as a statement or a question in the report. The report only mentioned the objective and main target of the study. The research problem can only be identified after reading the literature review.

Hypothesis and research question

Although the article did not specify the hypothesis and research question as distinct statements, the two clearly appear in the introduction of the report. Both of them are clearly linked to the main research purpose which is the effectiveness of CTAS in prediction of emergent deaths among patients with heart failure.

Theoretical framework

The study employs a theoretical framework where by the emergent deaths among patient with heart failure is linked to the neurohormonal risk stratification in cases of acute heart failure. In cases of heart failures, emergent deaths occur due to high possibility of development of cardiac arrest which stops pumping of blood and oxygen thus death. By use of Canadian Triangle Acuity Scale, this theoretical perspective can be predicted right or wrong (of which in this research study, it was predicted right) (Van Spall et al., 2011).

Literature review

The literature review section is incorporated in the introduction thus making the introduction part elaborate. It clearly gives a strong and cohesive background knowledge concerning the functioning of the Canadian Triangle Acuity Scale and its effectiveness in prediction of emergent death among patients with chronic heart failures. The review mostly employed primary sources with relevant citations and evidence from related sources. In this aspect, I can confidently state that the review clearly summarized the available knowledge about the topic. Although it was brief, the information given was sufficient, relevant, appropriate and current. The progressions for previous research were mentioned but the organization did not demonstrate a progressive development from previous research studies (Jencks, et al., 2009).

Research method

The research study predicted emergent deaths among patients with acute heart failures from year 2003 to 2007 on Canadian Triangle Acuity Scale. “National Ambulatory reporting system was used and vital statistics databases employed to examine and evaluate the care outcomes” (Rouleau, et al., 2003, p.87). Quantitative approach was used and it detailed the specific process used to carry out the study. This design provided all the means to examine hypothesis, objectives and the general purpose of the study. The research mentioned the threats and how they can be minimized since it involved human beings and this was done under ethical considerations. Some of the threats were the patient’s heart failure condition and possibility of death while undergoing the test (Van Spall et al., 2011).

Data collection measures

Various concepts were to be measured and the measurement procedure for each one of them was clearly described. For example, “a retrospective cohort analysis was done to selected patients using National Ambulatory Care reporting system database” (Van Spall et al., 2011). This data collection measure/concept was well explained and elaborated in the methodology. The data collection addressed the research objectives and hypothesis on the use of CTAS to predict emergent death among patients with chronic heart failure (Van Spall et al., 2011).

Instruments

The main instruments for analysis were CTAS and the database system for National Ambulatory Care reporting. The instruments were tested for viability and reliability before being used in the real study. This is because there were no reported cases of faults or failures in the normal working of the instruments (Van Spall et al., 2011).

Sample

The participants in the study are people and are described to be patients with heart failure problems from Ontario Canada.

Data analysis

There is a clear presented section that details how data collected was analyzed. Such methods included statistical analyses, charts, comparisons and other analysis. These statistical analysis methods were appropriate to the research purpose and design which is quantitatively based (Rouleau, et al., 2003).

Findings/summary/conclusion

The findings were that, “the use of CTAS in prediction of emergent death among heart failure patients was successful under a semi-quantitative triage acuity scale. Almost 95% of the patients proved this prediction right (Van Spall et al., 2011). Most of the major findings were detailed in the discussion.

Implications of the study

The study finding implied that the use of semi-quantitative disease non-specific triage acuity scale is capable of stratifying emergent death in patients with acute condition of heart failure.

Strengths and limitations

The strengths were size of study cohort, nature of population and the broad procedure of inclusion. The limitations included failure to account for care quality given to patients in ED. This might have modified the early outcomes obtained.

References

Jencks, F. et al. (2009). Rehospitalizations among patients in the Medicare fee-for-service program. N Engl J Med, 360: 418–428.

Hugli, O. et al. (2005). United States emergency department visits for acute decompensated heart        failure, 1992 to 2001. Am J Cardiol, 96: 1537–1542.

Rouleau, J. et al. (2003). Predicting mortality among patients hospitalized for heart failure:        derivation and validation of a clinical model. JAMA, 290: 81–87.

Van Spall, et al. (2011). Prediction of emergent heart failure death by semi-quantitative triage risk stratification. Research journal, 6(8), e23065.