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Critique of a Scholarly Article: A Quantitative Approach

Introduction

Patient care is at the core of nursing responsibilities. In this regard, nursing recognizes that effective patient care is fundamental for quick recovery of the patients. Because of the need to enhance recovery and prevent wastage of resources, most medical institutions are increasingly advocating for home based care. Empirical research ascertains that patients in home environments tend to be more relaxed and hence respond positively to the treatment accorded to them. As home makers, spouses, mothers and nurses, women play an integral role in providing home based are to various patients. The society expects them to provide these services to the ailing persons in their homes. However, they experience various challenges that equally compromise their quality of life and general wellbeing. Women suffering from cardiovascular infections particularly face a host of challenges especially considering that they are terminal patients. It is for this reason that DiGiacomo, Davidson, Zecchin, Lamb, and Daly, (2011) explore the health implications of women who provide home based care while suffering from cardiovascular infections at the same time.

The study under review sought to underscore the effect that care giving has on the cardiovascular health of women suffering from this disease. This was informed by the recognition that just like other women, these also participate actively in care giving. Basically, it cannot be disputed that care giving tasks are complex and involving. Reportedly, most care givers ascertain that they ultimately have poor health too (DiGiacomo et al, 2011). This is attributed to the mental as well as emotional strain that is associated with the practice. Further, relative roles demand immense physical, psychological and financial resources. Comparatively, they are more likely to develop health complications than the rest of the population. In light of this study, inherent difficulties are further exacerbated by the fact that the respective women suffer from cardiac problems. The authors of the study clearly present the main concern during their introduction. This placement is ideal as it acquaints the reader with factual background information about the topic (Polit & Beck, 2004).

With respect to the structure of the study, it is appropriate and qualifies the article to be employed in academic research. The study begins by providing important background information about the problem in its introduction. It then proceeds to the methodology and materials section. In this, it details the methods that were used during the study. Also, it underscores the findings of the study under the findings and discussion segment. Then, it cites the limitations of the study. Using these, future researchers wishing to pursue the subject further can identify intrinsic knowledge gaps and thus provide more credible results. Finally, it gives a conclusion of the study and lists the references employed in the same. According to Polit and Beck (2004), this is an ideal structure for quantitative nursing researches.

After identifying an ideal sample, the researchers present them with the Women’s-Role-Inventory- Protocol-Modified questionnaire to complete. This was drawn from membership of a CR medical program and constituted of fifty four participants. Although the sample was relevant, it was not representative of the global population. At this point in time, it is worth appreciating that studies, however small have various global implications. This is attributed to the fact that they contribute a great deal to the knowledge used for making critical decisions. Furthermore, current populations are diverse and hence, the generated knowledge needs to be comprehensive enough to effectively cater for their concerns.

Notably, this questionnaire is highly structured and seeks to determine the intensity of satisfaction as well as stress associated with women’s roles. In their study, Polit and Beck (2004) ascertain that quantitative nursing researches utilize highly structured questionnaires in data collection. The characteristic 10-point scale enabled effective rating of the degree of satisfaction or stress experienced by each participant. Besides garnering quantifiable levels of satisfaction and stress, it also aided in extrapolating the context and meanings of the relative perceptions. This was further followed by a discussion of the feelings of the participants. Although this move greatly compromised attainment of self generated responses, it ensured that the responses were objective and consistent with the measures presented in the survey and questionnaire instruments. To a great extent, this eased the process of coding and analysis of the findings.

With respect to analysis of the findings, the researchers employed statistical methods. In particular, they calculated the means, ranges and percentages of various aspects of their study. Relative measurements and definitions upon which this evaluation was based included the divorce rates, widowed periods and so forth. The findings were further presented graphically to ease understanding. Likewise, this is a highly structured approach that ensured that the outcomes were objective. Quantifying the findings enhances easy understanding of the same.

In their findings and discussion, the researchers ascertained that indeed, women play multiple roles in the home environment. Besides playing the roles of a spouse, they are also mothers and in some cases, bread winners of their families. Most importantly, they assume important nursing roles in home based care. Although these roles tend to be taxing and stressing, they are inherently satisfying (DiGiacomo, 2011). Nonetheless, the research recognized that unlike their counterparts, women suffering from cardiovascular diseases face unique challenges when performing relative roles. To a great extent, this compromises their health and makes them susceptible to relative illnesses. For this reason, the study concluded that although care giving by the respective women is satisfying, they need to create a balance between relative responsibilities and prioritization of their cardiovascular health. Finally, the researchers list the references they drew various ideas from. Using these, readers can be able to explore the presented information further.

In sum, the research article under review qualifies to be a quantitative nursing study. As it has come out from the preceding analysis, the study’s structure meets the requirements of an academic article. From the abstract and introduction, the authors proceed to the methodology segment. In this, they utilize a highly structured questionnaire to collect relevant data. Likewise, they analyze the data using statistical mathematical models. This contributes a great deal to objective outcomes. They then present their findings graphically as well as descriptively. Before they conclude by summarizing the entire study, they highlight the limitations of the study. From an ethical point of view, this is acceptable within the academic sphere. Finally, they provide a list of the sources they used as references. With these, the readers have a chance to study the provided facts further. In sum, the research article is idyllic, all encompassing and therefore credible within the academic sphere.

References

DiGiacomo, M., Davidson, P., Zecchin, R., Lamb, K. & Daly, J. (2011). Caring for others, but not themselves: Implications for health care interventions in women with cardiovascular disease. Nursing Research and Practice, 1. 2011-2016.

Polit, D. & Beck, C. (2004). Nursing research: principles and methods. Philadelphia: Lippincott & Wilkins.