Introduction
The article “Nurses’ Perception of Medication Administration Errors” by Aboshaiqah, Ahmad (2014) presents a quantitative study conducted to identify the factors that influence nurses’ medical errors. A critical appraisal is essential because it will provide a better understanding of the research methods used including data collection design and analysis. The aim of this critical appraisal would be to analyze whether the researcher employed the correct research methods and whether the findings agreed with the results and hypothesis. Quantitative research involves the use of questionnaires, surveys, and experiments to gather statistical data used to explain a hypothesis (Burns, & Grove, 2011). In this type of research, researcher should ensure that they use the appropriate methods and technique, sample size and design to collect and analyze data for the conclusions to be accurate. The paper will analyze the protection of human participation, data collection, data management, and analysis, findings and provide a conclusion regarding the appraisal.
Protection of Human Participants
Data Collection
The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing nurses’ medication administration error in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the researcher identified the dependent variable, as the medical administration error and the independent variables were nurses’ perception, demographics, and personal characteristics. For the purposes of the study, the researcher also provided definitions for these variables, which is commendable. To collect data, the author administered a Medication Administration Error Survey that contained 29 items based on a six point Likert-type scale (Aboshaiqah, 2014). According to the researcher, the survey would help gather useful information relating to the study explaining the reason they used this methods. In addition, the researcher also issued the participant with a profile form, which helped in gathering information relating to demographics.
It took one month for the researcher to collect the data that was analyzed and used to draw conclusions. Participants had to be 18 years and above nurses, who had worked in any of the targeted hospitals for more than three months (Aboshaiqah, 2014). They were required to sign cover letter showing they voluntarily wished to fill the questionnaire. After signing the cover letter, an identification number was issued to a participant, which they had to indicate at the top of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was self-reported and nurses were expected to fill them at their own time and give it back to the chief investigator.
Data Management and Analysis
The data obtained from the surveys was analyzed using the SPSS statistical package. While developing the instrument, the researcher had identified that the items had a 0.91 interim correlation. The standard deviation and the range was computed to measure the central tendency and dispersion in data gathered. To identify the relation in demographic characteristics and survey information, the Pearson’s coefficient of correlation was computed. The ANOVA and T-test were used to analyze the relation and difference of demographic and personal characteristics (Aboshaiqah, 2014). Although the author provides the methods used to analyze the data, the do not provide an in-depth explanation as to the process they took. The use of SPSS help eth researcher to ensure the accuracy of the results. To avoid being biased, several investigators assisted the authors to collect and analyze the data. Additionally, the use of SPSS also boosted the confidence the researcher because the results provided by the software were similar to those obtained by the researcher.
Findings / Interpretation of Findings: Implications for Practice and Future Research
The researcher found that most nurses associated medication errors with staffs not receiving enough services based on new medication (69.6%), and communication issues between physicians and nurses (Aboshaiqah, 2014). The nurses surveyed suggest that physician do not provided proper directions and clear guidelines on medication (65.4%). From the results obtained, the researcher concluded that the factors associated with medication administration errors among nurse in Saudi Arabia were staffing issues and communication challenges with physicians. The findings are valid because issues of staffing have always been a challenge that has led to rise in medical errors. Most nurses are provided with high workload, which makes them fatigue hindering their ability to execute their duties with a clear and conscious mind.
Evidently, there is a coherent and systematic way in which the author presents the finding. The author gives the results obtained by each variable investigated and a conclusion is drawn. The findings presented are very useful in the nursing field. This is because several researcher have found that communication in the health care sectors among professional has often resulted to medical errors. As such, with another finding from the research, health care professional can come up with way and solution to enhance communication among them. Subsequently, this would lead to reduction in medical errors. Nurses’ knowledge on medication and ability to comprehend physician instruction is an area that needs to be emphasized in the nursing practice. The author recommends that follow up studies through one-on-one interview in organizations need to be conducted to identify why medical errors continue to occur.
Conclusion
In summary, the author employed proper research methods and techniques that ensure the purpose of the study was met. From this appraisal, the study did not have any major issues apart from the author not clearly indicating the process employed in analyzing the data. Additionally, emphasizes that the analysis was not biased is not seen throughout the paper. Quantitative research in nursing should be able to provided relevant information that could assist in other studies, which the author has managed to provide. The author found that communication between physicians and nurse and staffing causes medical errors. Therefore, organizations need to come up with plan that would see nurses work for less hour so that they are not stretched. Additionally, physicians and nurses need to be educated to minimize communication barriers. Medication errors can be avoided if nurses working conditions are improved through adequate staffing.
References
Aboshaiqah, A. (2014). Nurses’ Perception of Medication Administration Errors. American Journal of Nursing Research, 2(4), 63-67.
Burns, N., & Grove, S. (2011). Understanding Nursing Research (5th ed.). Elsevier. ISBN-13: 9781437707502
