The Relationship Between Nurses’ Attitude and the Selection of Wound Care Procedures, Article Critique Example

Dugall and Watson’s study regarding the connection between wound care procedure and evidence-based practice in nursing  utilizes a questionnaire and  analysis format of investigation. The major findings of the study can be summarized by the following three points: first, that “there is a lack of empirical research to support clinical wound care practice”; second, that “there appears to be a lack of thought about the evidence to support wound care”; (Dugall & Watson, 2009, p. 1444) and third, that “Better general education and better specific training in wound care could lead to better wound care” (Dugall & Watson, 2009, p. 1442). These findings relate to specific study variables in that, roughly speaking, the higher the level of education in a fgiven sample-group, the “more positive attitude generally to evidence-based practice” (Dugall & Watson, 2009, p. 1446).  The study provided by the authors is highly persuasive. The authors provide a rational for their conclusions by showing a direct statistical link between education levels and the implementation of evidence-based practice.

The limitations of the study, as expressed by the authors, included: a low response rate, a sample group that was restricted to one health care community, and the overall lack of wound care knowledge that was available as a measure against the knowledge evidenced in the study of the respondents.  Another limitation of the study, as represented by the article, is that it demonstrates only one interpretation of the statistics. The study would be strengthened by a additional interpretations as well as by submitting the survey to additional respondents.  Although these limitations are genuine concerns regarding the conclusions made by the authors, the limitations in no way invalidate the authors central claims that education in wound-care training results in a better application, by nurses in the field, of evidence-based practice. It also seems clear that additional research adn study into the specifics of wound care practice are not only advisable, but urgently needed, in the health care field.

References

Dugdall, Hayley; Watson, Roger (2009) What is the relationship between nurses’ attitude to evidence based? Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18, 1442–1450