The spirit of the professional career, attitudes, values, and techniques of interacting with patients are considered as essential vocational and technical skills in the nursing profession. This becomes even important when patient is in grief. Post operative pain management is one of the challenges for the nurse as well as the doctor. It is important to identify the patient’s pain in the same way as he complaints. By this way, a better control of post operative pain will be achieved. I believe that patient’s grief should be assessed as they depict and explain. I chose this article ‘A Study on the Correlation Between the Nurses’ and Patients ‘Postoperative Pain Assessments’, by Vecihe Duzel.
I am going to evaluate and discuss about attitudes and level of practice of the nurses in this case. I will critically evaluate it and see whether it will help me to gain more knowledge or not. I believe that this paper will help me to realize shortcomings in me and also help me to improve this practice into my own clinical practice area.
The title of the study says it all and is quite descriptive. The title should be attractive enough to appeal the readers. It should be able to describe in few words what the essay is all about. The title of this article comes true to these important points. Though, as said by Hairston et al (2003) a helpful title does not emerge in one magic moment; it requires brainstorming and thinking. I can therefore say that authors have done a good research while making this title. It very precisely explains about the aim of study. It reflects enough about the content and readers can easily appreciate about the rest of the essay. I also appreciate that the title of this paper can easily meet my requirements well.
The purpose statement is very well stated and pertinent to the study objective of this research paper It resolves about knowing whether or not the nurses can assess the pain in the same sense as their patients experience after any surgical procedure. It also aims to examine personal factors that have an effect on this evaluation. The purpose statement is rationally associated with the structure of the study. The article has tried to highlight its aim very well but there is no such previously unexplained situation present in this article; however this article provides some literature of the previous studies about the topic under discussion.
A literature review is an important item that evaluates various studies found in the literature associated with the area of interest. It is the key part of every research project. Literature review is needed because it seeks to summarize available literature. It makes sense of a body of research and demonstrates an analysis of different literatures about the topic of discussion. Because of the need and importance of literature review in this article, it is present thoroughly in this research paper. The authors have made use of a good number of literatures in the discussion section. Even though, I believe he has used literature defining his views only. The literature review is considered to be the essence of the paper, and here this important essence is provided adequately. Though is generally pertinent to the research undertaken but should include literature concerning nurses role in controlling clients’ postoperative pain effectively. It just moves around the author’s perspective i.e. patients experience no improvement in their postoperative pain. It is based on a current and old research and has included research studies and key concepts and variables are defined well using primary sources. But no such gaps, controversies and inconsistencies are highlighted. The article in general has applied a good deal of research findings and evidence as present literature in this topic is boundless. This study does not possess any such research question but research aim has been well described.
The study designs used are descriptive and comparative ones. The research design seems to be apt in addressing the aim of the article. This is of particular importance in this research where whole aim needs exploration and comprehension of a vast topic. It is equivalent to the perception and research methods. The study does try to pull together various bits and piece to form a pattern.
About 94 patients and 55 nurses were included in this research paper from different clinics of the largest hospital in the country. 55 working nurses in the clinic – 2 nurses didn’t participate – 2 had supervisory duties –rest (all) participated in the study. If the total number of nurses were only 47, there are 4 nurses unaccounted for. Sampling technique can influence the validity of the research for that reason it should be carried out with utmost thoroughness. The study sample seems appropriate for the area of concern, however if more participants were included, it could have given even more exploration. Using patients from different clinics in their 48-hour postoperative periods is appropriate for this kind of study. The data collection has been described in detail. Data collection is a vital constituent to carrying out research. It is to some extent pertinent to the research question. However, average age of the nurse were 28.38 (+ or -) 5.3 years but the range suggests otherwise (19-38), which is twice the years (+ or -) 10 years. Figures regarding the patients seem more accurate. At 19 years, it’s nearly impossible to be a nurse with at least 3 months of working experience.
Since there is a need of instruments here, so these are used. This is a descriptive and comparative study, so instruments have much role here. These include (a) McGill-Melzack pain questionnaire, (b) nurse questionnaire and (c) patient questionnaire were used to evaluate pain. I therefore believe that sampling done is accurate and goes well with the need of the research. Considering that some patient would not provide answers of the questionnaire due to visual, hearing, or speech impairments, therefore they were excluded from the study, thus eliminating the chance of bias. This research paper takes into account of those who were able to verbalize or communicate their pain but the paper fails to provide the data on those that were unable to communicate their pain. What about the confused patients (mentally or influenced by drugs)? The instruments used for this type of research are appropriate and strengthen the study’s aim. The researchers have made possible to get the accurate results so they thoroughly performed the research. I consider it good for the objective of the research.
I believe that the ethical problems in research link to the protection of human participants to make certain the nonexistence or diminution of the likelihood of damage, nervousness, discomfort or injury. The researchers of this study also took ethical approval before conducting their study. This is very important here as humans were included in this study. They should have a right to know about the research and give consent whether they want to participate in it or not.
Analysis of data is carried out to decrease, record, systematize and provide meaning to data. This is done here very precisely and gradually. Moreover, the process of data analyzing is described effectively ~different groups were developed by the authors that were logically consistent to the data. The use of different groups and classes is the best prospect of this article in my opinion. This is the beauty of this paper. The grouping facilitates readers understand different critical views easily. Three tables are present showing Correlation between Patients’ and Nurses’ Scores for Part 1 and then the same for part 2 and part 3. These are thoroughly descriptive and accurate representing the results precisely. The correlation between nurses and patients in the assessments of pain were found. Everything written seems easy to perceive. Furthermore, the research paper does not simply sum up its findings but has provided thorough details following statistical analysis.
This study can lead to various important implications. It holds potential to bring about many new concepts and ideas. Authors have however not described about all the possible limitations present in their study.
The topic of assessing pain in poster operative patient by the nurses is quite new. It holds various future implications. The researches address realistic issues and concerns. More realistic is the issue, more authenticated is the research work (Spencer et al, 2003). Conclusion of the article is congruent and consistent with the findings. The conclusions of the study is meaningful, and facilitates the reader comprehend the theories developed. It showed a correlation in the assessment of pain between the nurses and the patients. Results were consistent with the previous findings; many researchers have found that nurses do possess an immense knowledge in providing pain control. Furthermore, patients’ education level was found to be the problem here. The findings are placed in context with the knowledge base in this particular area.
Recommendations are given for further research in order to validate their findings using a larger group of participants. According to the authors it would help to investigate better and stronger appraisals of nurses ‘pain assessments and to encourage them for their information and management of pain. Clinical implications are scarcely included in this research paper. In my opinion, they should be more included here since this whole research is clinical based.
This research paper is the result of work by Vecihe Duzel, Necdet Aytac and Gursel Ostunc. The researchers seem pertinent, ample and convincing in order to explore the study, although, I could not find much about their background even after doing a thorough research. Vecihe Duzel is RN and MD (mentioned in the paper) and based on this education and experience, I can say that author is completely familiar with the research topic. The final date of publication of this research is July 22, 2010. It was revised prior to publication. All about submission of this paper is mentioned in the paper itself. It was published in a peer reviewed journal. I believe the integration of this study will authorize me and other nurses to endorse most favourable patient outcomes and reduce practice variability. Though, notions towards pain assessment are multidimensional, yet this concept will be helpful in training and education of the nursing staff. Additionally, this article has helped me to enhance my research literacy skills. I am better able to comment and evaluate the articles now.
The whole paper is written flawlessly with clear thought and perception. All the ideas and thoughts of the authors are easily understandable. The writing of the paper is comprehensible, concise, and well presented and organized. But somehow data doesn’t satisfy the statement of the minimum requirement. The conclusion goes well with the aim and methods of the study.
References
Hairston, Maxine, and Michael, K. (2003). Successful Writing. (5th Ed.). New York, NY: Norton.
Spencer et al. (2003). Quality in qualitative evaluation. A Framework For Assessing Research Evidence.
