What is the purpose of this research?
What is the research question (or questions)? This may be implicit or explicit.
Did the authors describe the research design of this study? If so, give a description.
The researchers/authors stated that they used unstructured interviews to assess patient experiences with the help of purposive sampling. All interviews were based on open questions and the interviews were assessed based on existential phenomenology (Witlatch n/d.). The authors were inspired by the concept of interviewing patients and phenomenology based on French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty (George & Thomas 2010). Phenomenology is based on the assessing individual experiences which help in identifying key themes and factors that help nurses provide effective education and training to patients (George & Thomas 2010).
Describe the population (sample) for this study
A total of 10 women (8 African American and 2 White) were recruited for the study. All individuals were English-speaking and the age ranged from 65 to 85 years. All the participants had a history of diabetes for more than 10 years and based in rural sectors and dependent on social security for diabetes care and management (George & Thomas 2010).
Was the sample adequate for the research design that was selected?
Most researchers may assume that the small sample size as a key limitation. However, based on current evidence, 10 to 12 individuals are adequate for a phenomenological study. Since phenomenology is based on extracting information and themes from a target population for a specific issue or problem, the sample size is considered ideal (George & Thomas 2010).
Describe the data collection procedure.
The interviews for all participants were carried out at their respective homes based on the time and date of their choice. Face-to-face interviews were carried out for all participants, wherein their perspectives were noted down. All participants were given a choice to express their views and opinions on diabetes with no time limitation. Interviews lasted from 1 to 2 hours. All interviews commenced with the question, ‘Briefly describe your experience living with diabetes? It is from here that participants could express the opinions and views. The interviews were followed by a short survey on self-management practices which helped the authors to identify key themes (George & Thomas 2010 and Witlatch n/d.).
How were the data analysed after collection?
Based on previous research, the authors audiotaped and transcribed verbatim all the interviews. The authors repeated the recorded interviews to prevent bias or missing key themes or factors expressed by the participants. However, key themes from each interview was only identified by interpretive, interdisciplinary, and phenomenology research group. It is empirical to assess the interviews only by experience phenomenologically trained and experienced researchers. The interview narrative is assessed by these experts to extract ‘meaning units’ which are of empirical importance to the research question. Lastly, the expert group related the key themes and meaning units to develop a final thematic structure (George & Thomas 2010).
Discuss the limitations found in the study.
The key limitations for the study include the limited environmental location i.e. only the rural sectors of Southern USA, the absence of male patients, and the absence of other ethnic groups such as Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans. Research on the lived experiences of these minority group would provide key insights on diabetes self-care and management (George & Thomas 2010 and Witlatch n/d.).
Discuss the authors' conclusions. Do you feel these conclusions are based on the data that they collected?
Based on identified themes, the authors conclusions make sense and reciprocate to the issue where self-management is considered as just another medical management service which is forced on patients. The authors state that nurses should modify and regularly assess self-management and care needs of patients based on their needs instead of forcing clinical orders based on a financial, intellectual, and psychological system. The authors state that forcing patients to such a system may not provide benefit but may harm patients affecting their psychological well-being. The authors state that diabetes care should be individualized rather an adaptation of a universal management system (George & Thomas 2010 and Witlatch n/d.).
How does this advance knowledge in the field?
The study provides key insights on the importance of focusing on self-care management that is individualized and based on patient needs. Diabetes research and guidelines should focus on promoting and advocating individualized care to diabetes patients, wherein nurses should be trained to educate, train, and manage patients. The universal system of clinician’s orders should be replaced by individualized and effective management George & Thomas 2010).
What is the purpose of this research?
What is the research question (or questions)? This may be implicit or explicit.
The research question has not been explicitly mentioned but the authors assessed if the use of mobile (Apple I-apd) and web-based interventions would facilitate and improve self-care practices among diabetes patients (Hunt, Sanderson, & Ellison 2014).
Did the authors describe the research design of this study? If so, give a description.
Describe the population (sample) for this study.
The sample size for the study was small and involved patients aged 19 and above who could read and speak in English. The authors have not explicitly stated that number of participants in the study (Hunt, Sanderson, & Ellison 2014).
Was the sample adequate for the research design that was selected?
A small sample size for a pilot study ideal since it is not considered as a major scientific or clinical-based outcome study. Most pilot studies are conducted to form a scientific base or rationale to perform large scale studies on the same hypothesis or research agenda. Thus, the small sample size was considered ideal for the pilot study (Hunt, Sanderson, & Ellison 2014)
Describe the data collection procedure.
A structured interview was conducted to assess the participant’s opinions and views on the use of mobile (I-Pad) based interventions. Interviews are the best way to assess the opinions and views of participants with respect to a new intervention (Witlatch n/d.).
How were the data analysed?
The researchers qualitatively assessed the interviews by identifying key themes from the participants. Key words were identified and extracted from participants while expressing their views on the I-pad based intervention. Common words from all interviews were identified and examined for a common theme (Hunt, Sanderson, & Ellison 2014 and Witlatch n/d.).
Discuss the limitations found in the study?
The study was conducted only in a single centre which restricts the geographical location. There was no variance in ethnic and minority groups due to the limited number of participants. Lastly, there is a possibility of bias that may have over expressed or under expressed the results of the study (Hunt, Sanderson, & Ellison 2014 and Witlatch n/d.).
Discuss the authors' conclusions and assess if they are based on the data they collected?
How does this advance knowledge in the field?
This study provides key insights on new strategies such as mobile phones that could help facilitate and improve diabetes patient adherence to self-care practices (Witlatch n/d.).
References
George, S., & Thomas, S. (2010). Lived experience of diabetes among older, rural people.
Hunt, C., Sanderson, B., Ellison, K., (2014). Support for diabetes using technology: A pilot
study to improve self-management. MedSurg Nursing, 23(4), 231-237.
Witlatch J (n/d.) Evidence-based practice research article critique. Chamberlain college of
nursing. Web. Brainshart.com. Available at: http://www.brainshark.com/devry/vu?pi=zFmz5THHgzHr05z0&intk=406182077. [Accessed 26 January 2016].
