Qualitative Research Publication Critique
Time spent as a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) can be scary for both patients and their families (Johansson, Bergbom, & Lindahl, 2012). Clukey, Weyant, Roberts, and Henderson (2014) conducted a qualitative study focused on the experiences of patients and their families, specifically related to the time the patient was intubated and sedated. The authors separated the research findings into two different articles, one presenting the families perspective, and the article used in this critique, entitled, Discovery of Unexpected Pain in Intubated and Sedated Patients in which the authors presented the patient's perspective to the ICU experience (Clukey et al., 2014).
Problem, Purpose, and Hypothesis To ensure a concise and focused research and writing process, authors must align the components that anchor the research, starting with a statement of the problem (Jones, n.d.). In this case, the problem as described by the authors was the lack of information and understanding related to the ICU experiences of both patients and families. Next, the authors must address the purpose of the study. In this study the purpose was to examine the feelings, perceptions, and experiences of participants who had been intubated, physically restrained, mechanically ventilated and sedated. Lastly, to maintain the alignment, the author must discuss the research question or hypothesis of the study. The authors of the study, Clukey et al., (2014) focused on answering research questions to further their understanding, rather than hypothesis testing, which is typically seen in quantitative studies. Methodology The phenomenological methodology was used in this study by Clukey et al. (2014), to explore the participants’ subjective interpretation of their ICU experience. The scope of the study included 14 patients, all of whom had been recently housed in the ICU, where they had been intubated, mechanically ventilated, and restrained while receiving both sedation and pain medication (Clukey et al., 2014). The 14 participants, after leaving the ICU, were interviewed at their hospital bedside using a “semi structured” set of questions by a primary investigator and at times a coinvestigator as well (Clukey et al., 2014). Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting As part of the data collection for this study, authors Clukey et al. (2014) recorded the interviews, transcribed the recordings and used data management software to code the data. In analyzing the information obtained, the authors described three primary themes that emerged from the data collected; “a lack of memory related to being restrained”, “the perception that being intubated was horrific” and, “nurses behaviors were deemed helpful” (Clukey et al., 2014, p. 217). Following the data analysis the authors reported that sedated patients receiving pain medication may “appear relaxed and pain-free”, however, they may be experiencing pain (Clukey et al., 2014, p …show more content…
Additional strengths of using the qualitative research study method are found in the flexibility of the location and timing of the research activities. In the study of ICU patients discussed above, the location of the interview was at the patient’s bedside, conducted at a time convenient for the participant (Clukey et al., 2014).
Depending on the number of participants and the length of the interview, qualitative research can be time-consuming which is one weakness for researchers to consider when developing these studies (Anderson, 2010). Another weakness found when using the qualitative study design is the potential bias of the researcher (Grove, Gray, & Burns, 2015). The qualitative method relies on the skills of the researcher which can be compromised by the researchers’ beliefs and expectations (Anderson, 2010). To prevent researcher bias and minimize the potential weaknesses, the study conducted by Clukey et al. (2014) was designed with a primary investigator and a coinvestigator working together to ensure the accuracy and neutrality of the researcher and the …show more content…
Researchers are responsible for addressing the ethical challenges throughout all phases of the qualitative research studies. In the article by Clukey et al. (2014), the researchers obtained the approval of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), to ensure patient safety prior to the start of the research. After receiving IRB approval, the researchers in this study obtained the voluntary informed consent in writing from each of the participants. Lastly, to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the participants, the researcher in this study coded the identity of each participant in the research report by using the participant’s
Time spent as a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) can be scary for both patients and their families (Johansson, Bergbom, & Lindahl, 2012). Clukey, Weyant, Roberts, and Henderson (2014) conducted a qualitative study focused on the experiences of patients and their families, specifically related to the time the patient was intubated and sedated. The authors separated the research findings into two different articles, one presenting the families perspective, and the article used in this critique, entitled, Discovery of Unexpected Pain in Intubated and Sedated Patients in which the authors presented the patient's perspective to the ICU experience (Clukey et al., 2014).
Problem, Purpose, and Hypothesis To ensure a concise and focused research and writing process, authors must align the components that anchor the research, starting with a statement of the problem (Jones, n.d.). In this case, the problem as described by the authors was the lack of information and understanding related to the ICU experiences of both patients and families. Next, the authors must address the purpose of the study. In this study the purpose was to examine the feelings, perceptions, and experiences of participants who had been intubated, physically restrained, mechanically ventilated and sedated. Lastly, to maintain the alignment, the author must discuss the research question or hypothesis of the study. The authors of the study, Clukey et al., (2014) focused on answering research questions to further their understanding, rather than hypothesis testing, which is typically seen in quantitative studies. Methodology The phenomenological methodology was used in this study by Clukey et al. (2014), to explore the participants’ subjective interpretation of their ICU experience. The scope of the study included 14 patients, all of whom had been recently housed in the ICU, where they had been intubated, mechanically ventilated, and restrained while receiving both sedation and pain medication (Clukey et al., 2014). The 14 participants, after leaving the ICU, were interviewed at their hospital bedside using a “semi structured” set of questions by a primary investigator and at times a coinvestigator as well (Clukey et al., 2014). Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting As part of the data collection for this study, authors Clukey et al. (2014) recorded the interviews, transcribed the recordings and used data management software to code the data. In analyzing the information obtained, the authors described three primary themes that emerged from the data collected; “a lack of memory related to being restrained”, “the perception that being intubated was horrific” and, “nurses behaviors were deemed helpful” (Clukey et al., 2014, p. 217). Following the data analysis the authors reported that sedated patients receiving pain medication may “appear relaxed and pain-free”, however, they may be experiencing pain (Clukey et al., 2014, p …show more content…
Additional strengths of using the qualitative research study method are found in the flexibility of the location and timing of the research activities. In the study of ICU patients discussed above, the location of the interview was at the patient’s bedside, conducted at a time convenient for the participant (Clukey et al., 2014).
Depending on the number of participants and the length of the interview, qualitative research can be time-consuming which is one weakness for researchers to consider when developing these studies (Anderson, 2010). Another weakness found when using the qualitative study design is the potential bias of the researcher (Grove, Gray, & Burns, 2015). The qualitative method relies on the skills of the researcher which can be compromised by the researchers’ beliefs and expectations (Anderson, 2010). To prevent researcher bias and minimize the potential weaknesses, the study conducted by Clukey et al. (2014) was designed with a primary investigator and a coinvestigator working together to ensure the accuracy and neutrality of the researcher and the …show more content…
Researchers are responsible for addressing the ethical challenges throughout all phases of the qualitative research studies. In the article by Clukey et al. (2014), the researchers obtained the approval of the Institutional Review Board (IRB), to ensure patient safety prior to the start of the research. After receiving IRB approval, the researchers in this study obtained the voluntary informed consent in writing from each of the participants. Lastly, to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the participants, the researcher in this study coded the identity of each participant in the research report by using the participant’s