Critical Evaluation of Qualitative or Quantitative Research Study
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The selected research article is the qualitative study titled “A striving for independence: a qualitative study of women living with vertebral fracture”. The study has sufficient detail required for critical appraisal and there is evidence that the researchers, Hallberg et al. (2010), have the qualifications and expertise needed to conduct the research since three authors work in the field of nursing science while one specializes in cardiovascular medicine. The purpose of this critical appraisal is to evaluate components of the study.
Abstract and Title
Abstracts should provide a summary of the study including all the major components of a research article which enable the reader to develop an accurate opinion of the information presented before reading the entire article (Tullu, 2019). Hallberg et al. (2010) provided an abstract that summarized the entire study including the background, methods, results, and conclusion sections. The title for the study was also accurate and clear and sufficiently reflected the topic at hand and the research designed used by the researchers.
Problem Statement and Literature Review
Hallberg et al. (2010) also clearly described the phenomenon of interest in the background section which also included the literature review. According to LoBiondo-Wood and Haber (2018), the introduction section for qualitative studies is generally brief since there is limited knowledge on the topic at hand and usually constitutes the literature review for the study. The rationale for the study should also be clearly articulated based on knowledge gaps identified in the study and the research method should be justified. Hallberg et al. (2010) discussed vertebral fractures as one of the impacts of osteoporosis and identified that there are few studies that assess lived experiences of people with vertebral fractures. None of these studies sufficiently evaluated the long-term implications of the fractures on daily life and health-related quality of life hence the current study is justified. The use of a qualitative research design is also justified since there was the need to complement the findings obtained from a survey study that revealed the need to understand how the quality of life for older women is impacted by vertebral fractures. The study title is also accurate and clear and directly related to the aim of the study.
In qualitative studies, it is important to describe the philosophical underpinnings of the selected research method (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2018). Hallberg et al. (2010), described the philosophical underpinnings of the study by mentioning the advantages of using an inductive conventional approach. This approach eliminates the need for a theoretical perspective or predetermined categories and allows for collection of direct information from the participants using interviews.
Purpose
Hallberg et al. (2010) stated that the study’s purpose was to describe the impacts of vertebral fractures on older women’s quality of life including their daily lives. The main impacts of vertebral fractures assessed in the study include physical impairment, pain, and decline in psychological wellbeing.
Ethical issues
The ethical component of research includes informing the participants about the purpose of the study, informed consent, protecting the participants’ confidentiality, and engaging in actions that prevent harm (Sanjari et al., 2014). The methods used in qualitative research, especially interviews, make it difficult to guarantee anonymity. Since questions asked in interview sessions are usually open-ended, participants may easily disclose personal information (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2018). Hallberg et al. (2010) addressed ethical issues by providing the participants with oral and written information about their voluntary participation and assuring them of confidentiality in their responses. The participants were also informed of transcription of the interviews and that confidentiality would be ensured by coding their names. Hallberg et al. (2010) also obtained the approval of the Regional Ethical Review Board and the study adhered to the regulations described under the Declaration of Helsinki.
Sampling
Sampling strategies for qualitative research focus on recruiting participants with life experience directly associated with the phenomenon of interest (Busetto et al, 2020). Therefore, the main sampling method for these studies is purposeful sampling which allows researchers to collect complete data about the topic of research. The data collection process is usually continued until saturation is achieved (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2018). Hallberg et al. (2010) accessed the participants by recruiting them from a group of women who had previously completed a study on living with hip or vertebral fractures. The final sample of 10 women met the inclusion criteria. Strategic sampling was also used to ensure that all the participants met the maximal variation which included marital status, age, number of vertebral fractures, and their severity. The participants were all female and their ages fell between 68 to 84 years. One participant was in senior housing while the rest lived independently. Half of the participants were widowed while the other half were married. The average number of vertebral fractures was four while the average severity calculated using the Spinal Deformity Index was 11. Nine participants had other co-occurring illnesses with cardiac disease being the most common.
Data Collection and Analysis
Hallberg et al. (2010) used interviews as the main data collection strategy hence the data focused on human experiences. the article provided a comprehensive description of the data collection method including the length of the interviews and the place where the interviews took place. The data collected gathered was rich and of sufficient depth and all the interview questions and responses were appropriately recorded using a digital voice tracer. All questions were open-ended and the interview followed a semi-structured interview guide. The data was transcribed verbatim by a professional secretary who worked with one of the authors. The transcription process considered all background and nonverbal sounds. Data saturation was not described.
The data analysis strategy was the conventional content analysis method which included checking the accuracy of the transcripts, independent reading of transcripts by the authors, highlighting relevant texts, breaking them into phrases, and using open coding to organize the transcripts and formulate themes. The described data analysis processes can easily be followed by the reader. Hallberg et al. (2010) also included a table that described the identified categories, subcategories, and themes and there was a clear logical connection between the themes and raw data. The researcher remained true to the information they collected from participants and the reported findings depicted the reality lived by the participants.
Trustworthiness of data
Hallberg et al. (2010) addressed credibility of the study using critical judgment where all the authors were actively engaged in the analysis process. the authors held several meetings which entailed refining the coding process. for auditability, the research process was fully documented and it is easy for the reader to follow the thinking of the researcher. There is also a logical connection between the identified themes and the data and the article provides a comprehensive description of the findings. The findings and conclusions are also in agreement.
The participant characteristics achieved variation which enabled the researchers to obtain rich data. However, Hallberg et al. (2010) stated that the findings are not generalizable to all women diagnosed with vertebral fractures although they can be used to develop hypotheses for future studies. The analysis strategy was compatible with the aim of the study although Hallberg et al. (2010) explained that analysis and sampling methods made it difficult to assume the existence of a theoretical relationship between the identified concepts.
Results, implementation, and recommendation
Hallberg et al. (2010) described the findings in a narrative format within the context of the purpose of the study and included a thorough discussion section that compared the current findings to that obtained in previous studies. The narration of the findings facilitates apprehension of the participants’ experiences. The researchers also placed the findings in context of current knowledge about the areas of interest.
The conclusions and recommendations reflect the findings obtained and provide the reader with a context which they can apply the findings. The study contributes to evidence-based practice (EBP) since it captures the health and daily experiences of patients with vertebral fractures and the need for independence and access to social support for this population. Hallberg et al. (2010) recommend that future studies use larger study groups and also describe how the study informs nursing practice by describing the need for supporting self-management methods among women with vertebral fractures. These recommendations directly reflect the findings obtained from the study.
References
Busetto, L., Wick, W., & Gumbinger, C. (2020). How to use and assess qualitative research methods. Neurological Research And Practice, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42466-020-00059-z
Hallberg, I., Ek, A., Toss, G., & Bachrach-Lindström, M. (2010). A striving for independence: a qualitative study of women living with vertebral fracture. BMC Nursing, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6955-9-7
LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2018). Nursing research: Methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice.(9th ed) St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Sanjari, M., Bahramnezhad, F., Fomani, F. K., Shoghi, M., & Cheraghi, M. A. (2014). Ethical challenges of researchers in qualitative studies: the necessity to develop a specific guideline. Journal of medical ethics and history of medicine, 7, 14.
Tullu M. S. (2019). Writing the title and abstract for a research paper: Being concise, precise, and meticulous is the key. Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia, 13(Suppl 1), S12–S17. https://doi.org/10.4103/sja.SJA_685_18