The qualitative research report title is “Hospital Lighting and Its Association with Sleep, Mood and Pain in Medical Patients”. It seeks to find out whether there is a relationship between hospital lighting and the status of patients in hospitals. The main variables here are hospital lighting and patients’ sleep, mood and pain. The target population includes medical patients.
Abstract
The article’s abstract summarizes all the key points regarding this research. It states the aims of the study that is to find whether there exists a relationship between patient’s condition and hospital lighting. It narrates the background information that led to this study. The design used is stated-descriptive correlational study. It abstract indicates the time range between which the study was conducted together with the methods used. Results are stated in brief form followed by a conclusion. Therefore, the answer is simply yes. The abstract has effectively summarized the main features of the report.
Introduction
The problem is introduced early in the introduction section. The problem stated is to find whether there is an association between hospital lighting and patients’ mood, pain and sleep-wake patterns. Background information that led to the study is the speculation that hospital environment may affect patients’ moods, pains and sleep. The problem relates well with the relevant background information since they are directed towards one aim. There is enough justification in the study. A number of studies have proved that hospital lighting structures are not optimal to promote the health of patients. The authors of the report draw evidence from other researches such as research by Pachacek and others, 2008 and VIllemurre and Bunshell, 2009. The study problem is much significant to nursing since the nurse duty is to ensure optimal welfare of patients. Lighting system in hospitals affects patients’ status hence the problem is significant. A good number of studies have been done on the same problem. Hospitals are everywhere, and conduction of practical research is capable. This is a clear indication that the problem is readily researchable.
Critical analysis has been performed on the cited literature. A good example is the work of Pachacek and others of 2008. It states that institutional lighting systems are not yet optimal to promote patient's health. These findings have been supported by findings of other researchers. The report concludes that there exists a relationship between the above-named variables. Previous research findings like that of Roehrs and Roth, 2005 indicate the presence of a relationship between sleep-wake patterns and patients’ mood, pain and depression. The problem is to find the existence of a relationship between lighting in hospitals and patients’ status. The relationship here is to support or oppose previous research findings. No classic citations appear in this report. Only current ones appear with the latest being of 1999. Most of the researchers’ citations are proposing existence of a relationship. In fact, not even a single is opposing the research hypothesis. The whole research work is organized systematically with flowing ideas, all of which appear in subheadings. After introduction, there is background information, theoretical framework then the empirical study. Literature review flow is perfect. It has quite a number of primary resources all appearing in the reference page.
The conceptual framework used is a working hypothesis that attempts to explain the existence of a relationship between light and patients’ welfare. It is very much applicable since the research seeks to explore the problem.
The purpose or aim of the study is to describe light exposure, mood, pain and sleep-wake patterns in hospitalized individuals and find relationships between these variables.
There are no explicit research questions or hypothesis for this study. Implied ones are existence of a relationship and absence of a relationship. Despite this, presence of a relationship has been proved.
Method
The relevant variables are fully defined operationally by indicating light impact on each of them. They include light in a hospital setting and patients, sleep-wake patterns, moods and pains. The type of research design employed is descriptive correlational design, which is right. It seeks to describe the type of relationship existing between the study variables.
The target population is adult patients who are hospitalized not home-based. The sampling method employed is convenience sampling since characteristics of individuals used as samples is predetermined. An inclusion and exclusion criterion is used with those patients likely to last less than 72 hours in the hospital excluded. Threats to this study included nurses limiting approach to other patients, other patients declining researchers’’ approach and other clinical procedures that interfered with the research requirements. The researcher acknowledges these threats and says 17 cases were eliminated due to technical failures.
Data collection methods are explicitly stated and both variable recorded differently, that is light versus pain, mood and sleep-wake. The instruments used to measure all variables were useful as those which measured pain on a scale of 1-10. The instruments are valid since they are indicating different intensities based on light exposures. The numeric pain scale used is the widely method used in hospitals to measure pain, the Profile of Mood State Brief Form is reliable since it has 65 items, light sensor used has the ability of measuring light intensity in a lux. The means of establishing relationship used are thus reliable. Description on how each instrument was scored is also available. For example, the numeric pain scale had 0-10 scales with 0 indicating no pain, while 10 indicating the worst pain.
Procedures applied in line with the type of variable under study. Interventions were done to vary the amount of light exposure on patients to find its actual effects on patients. Biasness was eliminated since both male and female adult patients were used as samples. Convenience sampling was also done objectively to ensure reliable results. Researchers had the required expertise to conduct this study since they used the instruments given in an objective manner that yielded positive results. Descriptive correlational design method employed suggests a relationship between light intensity and patients’ status. Many previous reviews on this issue indicate presence of a relationship between the study variables hence the problem is supported. The results of this study are not confidential since they are meant to benefit the nursing fraternity.
Different methods are used for each particular variable under study to find a relationship independently. Regression analysis method was employed to determine the strength of the relationship existing between the study variables. Statistical tests include recording values of the dependent variable(s) against variability in the independent variable. Information got from data analysis is objective and enough to form a conclusion. This is because procedures are adequately followed hence results are objectively determined.
Findings or Results
The sample characteristics are clearly defined. In order be a good sample, the patient should be in the hospital for more than 72 hours, be an adult, and not a victim of any surgery. Results are not limited to data since previous researches are used o second existence of the relationship between the study variables. Since there are no specific research questions, the answer to the research problem is given in general terms, which show the presence of a relationship. Generalizations are made based on the study sample results. That is, for all hospitalized patients, there exists a relationship between light intensity and all hospitalized patients, pain, mood and sleep. No single generalization is made that is not based on the sample results. There is use of clearly labeled tables and graphs that aid in explaining the research findings.
Discussion
A number of limitations are discussed; limitation of sample size to 40 items, presence of chronic pains among some other patients, lack of measurement of biological markers, some patients turning down researchers’ approach, some patients altering conditions of the study and nurses preventing approach to other patients whom they think the study may cause a threat. The findings of the research finalized that a good night rest together with enough sunshine exposure is associated with better health and happiness. This directly relates to the research problem and gives an answer to it. That is; there exists a relationship between the study variables. These findings propose previous studies of other researchers like Phipps Nelson et al. 2003. Their research states that higher light exposure is associated with increased vitality levels. Significant findings are explained in relation of previous studies e.g. low light exposure cause mood disturbances (Nightingale, 1969).
Implications
Light intensity affects patients’ health and happiness. Implication is that nurses should have knowledge of the effect of light intensity on patient’s welfare hence modify it in such a way to benefit hospitalized patients.
Global Issues
Presentation
The report is well-organized in subheadings with a clear flow of ideas. Critical analysis is possible since extensive information has been gathered regarding relationship between the study variables. The results are well analyzed and conclusion well drawn making the study comprehensive. Nurses should access it in order to boost their services to hospitalized patients. More research should be conducted to ascertain whether such results are applicable to other practice areas.
The study is much reliable despite the limitations. The study is objectively conducted hence results are reliable. This research is expected to contribute positively to the nursing profession. It paves the way for future research by documenting the presence of relationships between light, pain, mood and sleep in hospitalized adult medical patients. Therefore, it is likely to give an advantageous input in the nursing profession thus propelling the quality of nursing services to the next level. Enough lighting in hospital systems is advisable since it has a positive relation with patients’ health standards.
References
Bernhofer, E. I., Higgins, P. A., Daly, B. J., Burant, C. J., & Hornick, T. R. (2014). Hospital Lighting and Its Association with Sleep, Mood and Pain in Medical Inpatients. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(5), 1164–1173. doi:10.1111/jan.12282
