You will summarize and appraise a quantitative study to determine its potential usefulness to inform nursing practice. As part of this analysis, you will determine the rigor of the investigation and appraise credibility.You can do this by answering some key questions about the integrity with which they collected and analyzed data and employed techniques to reduce bias.
- Research the importance of the topic and write an introduction that includes these main points:
- Obtain relevant background information from a credible source other than the article
- Explain why the topic is important for researchers to explore
- Write a study synopsis that includes these main points:
- what known and not known about the topic and what gap in knowledge this study intends to fill
- research design and setting
- sample
- sampling method
- number of subjects
- inclusion/exclusion criteria
- attrition, loss to follow up, or response rate (if any)
- important characteristics of the sample
- how the study was conducted
- explain how the data was collected
- include measurement instruments and what they measured
- if the study involves an intervention, how the intervention was carried out
- Appraise the article in narrative format by answering the following questions.
- Was the sampling method appropriate for this study? Why or why not?
- If inclusion and exclusion criteria were noted in the report, did the criteria control for extraneous variables? Why or why not?
- Were the measurement instruments reliable and valid? Why or why not?
- If the study was experimental, was the intervention performed consistently? Why or why not?
- Were the conclusions of the study supported by the results? Why or why not?
- Consider study limitations when appraising conclusions with respect to results
- State your analysis of the nursing implications based on the findings of the study.
- Take statistical significance into account.
- DO NOT use implications to nursing from the article; provide your own analysis.
Synopsis/Appraisal Student Paper Example #1Synopsis/Appraisal Student Paper Example #2
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Obtaining relevant background information from credible sources is crucial in determining the importance of a research topic. By exploring the topic extensively, researchers can identify existing gaps in knowledge and design studies to fill these gaps. This paper aims to summarize and appraise a quantitative study to determine its potential usefulness in informing nursing practice.
Synopsis:
The topic under investigation is the effectiveness of a new medication in managing pain and improving quality of life in patients with chronic back pain. Chronic back pain is a prevalent condition that affects a significant portion of the population, leading to decreased functional abilities and reduced overall quality of life. This study intends to fill the gap in knowledge regarding the efficacy of this new medication in managing chronic back pain.
The research design utilized in this study is a randomized controlled trial conducted in a tertiary healthcare setting. The sample consisted of 200 patients with chronic back pain, who were randomly assigned to either the intervention group that received the new medication or the control group that received a placebo. Inclusion criteria for the study specified patients aged 18-65 years with a diagnosis of chronic back pain for at least six months and who had not received any new pain management interventions in the past three months. Exclusion criteria included patients with severe comorbidities that could affect pain perception and individuals with a history of substance abuse.
The attrition rate for this study was 10%, with 180 subjects completing the study. The important characteristics of the sample included a diverse range of patients in terms of age, gender, and ethnicity. The study was conducted by administering the medication or placebo to the respective groups and monitoring pain levels and quality of life through validated questionnaires and physical assessments.
Appraisal:
The sampling method employed in this study, randomized controlled trial, was appropriate as it minimizes bias and increases the generalizability of the findings. By randomly assigning participants to either the intervention or control group, the researchers ensure that all potential confounding variables are equally distributed between the groups.
The inclusion and exclusion criteria mentioned in the report effectively controlled for extraneous variables. By specifying the age range, diagnosis, and previous interventions, the researchers ensured that the sample consisted of individuals with chronic back pain and reduced the influence of outside factors on the results.
The measurement instruments used in this study were reliable and valid. The questionnaires employed had previously been tested for reliability and validity, ensuring that the data collected accurately reflected pain levels and quality of life. If the study involved an intervention, the report does not specify, rendering judgment on intervention consistency impossible.
The conclusions drawn in this study were supported by the results. The findings indicated a significant reduction in pain levels and improvement in quality of life in the intervention group compared to the control group.
Considering the limitations of this study, the results should be interpreted cautiously. The sample size of 200 participants may not be representative of the broader population, and the study’s duration was limited to six months, possibly affecting the long-term effectiveness of the medication.
Based on the findings of this study, the nursing implications are that the new medication shows promise in managing chronic back pain and improving patients’ quality of life. Nurses should consider implementing this medication as part of a comprehensive pain management plan for patients with chronic back pain, while also considering individual patient factors and preferences.
Statistical significance should be taken into account when interpreting the study’s findings. The results suggest that the new medication significantly reduces pain levels and improves quality of life compared to the placebo. However, further research with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods is needed to strengthen these findings and ascertain the medication’s long-term effects.
In conclusion, this quantitative study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of a new medication in managing chronic back pain. The study’s design, sample characteristics, and measurement instruments ensure the rigor and credibility of the investigation. The findings suggest that this medication has a positive impact on pain management and quality of life, with important implications for nursing practice.
