Review the data provided for appraisal of qualitative research where you will compare and contrast studies to draw conclusions. After reviewing the data presented in the table, answer the following questions:
What two patterns in the study can you identify? (Consider the sample and its size, study methods and whether it is appropriate to test the data, similarities/differences in the findings/concepts/themes).
What are the two strengths or limitations of the data?
Discuss one practice recommendation that you could make based on your analysis of the studies. Referring to the evidence presented, explain why you are recommending this practice change.
Discuss one pro and one con of using qualitative versus quantitative research approaches to inform nursing knowledge. Appraisal of Qualitative Research Essay Example
Appraisal of Qualitative Research
After reviewing the data presented in the table, the two patterns that can be identified in the studies are limited sample sizes and similarities in the presentation of findings. All the three studies clearly have limited sample sizes. That is n=11, n=40, and n=15. This is a weakness because qualitative research requires a large sample size for there to be any chance of generalizability of results (reliability) and clinical significance. The observed characteristic can only hold true for the general population represented by the sample if the sample is large enough in a qualitative study. The other pattern of presenting results for the three studies is typical of qualitative studies. The results are presented as themes or categories of observations as opposed to quantitative studies where numerical data and p-values/ confidence intervals are used.
The two major strengths of the data are that (i) they were collected by face-to-face interviews for two of the studies; and (ii) they are non-numerical and hence easier to group and analyze. Face-to-face interviews enable assessment and observation of the respondents since these are qualitative studies. Two limitations of the data are that (i) they cannot be manipulated mathematically to derive meaning from them; and (ii) they are documented as a result of the researcher’s interpretation of responses. This means that they are open to researcher or observer bias. Appraisal of Qualitative Research Essay Example
BUY A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE
One practice recommendation that could be made based on the studies is that clinicians should prescribe isotonic aerobic exercise (walking) to cancer patients regardless of their particular diagnosis or staging. This is because these patients suffer from other conditions and complications resulting from the primary diagnosis of cancer. They include hypertension and obesity. Isotonic aerobic exercise can therefore greatly benefit the cancer patient and improve their quality of life (QoL). This particular practice change is recommended because it is informed by evidence and so builds evidence-based practice or EBP (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019). In this context, one pro of using qualitative research as opposed to quantitative research to inform practice is that it does not require a lot of money to conduct. On the other hand, one con of using qualitative as opposed to quantitative research to inform nursing practice is that it is difficult to establish clinical significance since the threshold for that is very high in qualitative studies.
References
MacDonald, H.V. & Pescatello, L.S. (2018). Exercise prescription for hypertension: New advances for optimizing blood pressure benefits. Lifestyle in Heart Health and Disease, 115-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811279-3.00009-4
Melnyk, B.M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice, 4th ed. Wolters Kluwer. Appraisal of Qualitative Research Essay Example