Methods Coursework - Research Proposal Example

Question 82 words) Constitutive ethnography merits a "first person" perspective because of its inherent ivity and bias to a certain group, hence the first person perspective should have been used. Furthermore, the study is focused on pharmacists, it should have provided more insight into their character and professional culture to allow readers to understand their values and situate where their views within the results. Lastly, the paper appeared as if it was objective and provides generalizations, when they are not characteristic of the study's methodology. Question 2 (87 words) I am persuaded by the results only because of my personal bias. However, the study is not convincing because: First, not enough contextual information was provided with regard to the professional culture of the pharmacy community. Second, no other methods were used aside from videotape analysis, which should have been done to triangulate the results of constitutive methodology. Lastly, the 30 hours of tape taken from each participant is not enough because constitutive ethnography's authority is based primarily on the length of time spent studying the subjects. Question 3 (122 words) Although the general objective, to identity effective communication in the pharmacy practice, is clear, the specific objectives identified were not. First, it is confusing if the study is aimed at generalizations or specific observations. The use of constitutive ethnography suggests specific observations, however, the manner that objectives were written are too broad that it seems to make generalizations. Second, if the study aims to test the value of constitutive ethnography as a research method, it should have discussed the effect of pharmacists' professional culture to illustrate that there is value in choosing the method. Lastly, how pharmacists' knowledge base makes them lead investigators in the field should have been explained as well since this is the underlying rationale for the third objective. Question 4 (180 words) Constitutive ethnography was used to build upon individual and group analyses of the participants. It is appropriate because by placing the pharmacist as practitioner in the center stage, the study can lead to crucial micro level and empirical evaluations of actual pharmacist consultations. However, the study was lacking in better operationalization of concepts and measures, as well as clearer identification of the variables. Furthermore, because it is exploratory, it should have provided a better groundwork for replication. The measures of an effective consultation vis--vis an ineffective one was not clear. Additional input due to pharmacist's communication skills does not necessarily mean that the consultation was effective within the context of effective healthcare. Moreover, even if such definition is considered effective, pharmacists should have identified concrete criteria on how to distinguish input as a result of effective communication skills vis--vis others. Lastly, neglect of patient's evaluations is cause for alarm. Although this was noted as a limitation of the study, researchers could have at least conducted a focus group on the view of patients to provide more insight into pharmacist-patient communication. Question 5 (108 words) The following results were presented: (1) categories and sub-categories of effective communication skills; (2) instances of effective and ineffective communication and skills usage in each; and (3) types of consultations. All were presented through the use of tables, qualified by brief explanations. However, since constitutive ethnography was the methodology used, these results are incomplete. Insights into the manner that the pharmacists evaluated themselves and the manner that their professional culture as affected the identified results should have been included. As stated in the objectives, it aims to assess whether participative research is effective in analyzing the topic, thus, their effect on the results should have been given consideration. Question 6 (147 words) The following interpretations were consistent with results: First, Table 1 illustrates the integrative nature of effective communication through multiple appearances of sub-skills in a number of major categories,. Second, Table 1 also illustrates the distinction between the content and form of communication; thus, effective communication requires good communication skills as well as knowledge of the subject. Third, Table 2 illustrates that the most important skill - building rapport - is based on relationships between patients and pharmacists, emphasizing the importance of relational factors. And last, Table 3 illustrates how different types of consultation require different kinds of skills from the pharmacist. However, the results do not support the fourth conclusion that a linkage between effective communication and frequency of skills usage exists. None of the results indicate a causal relationship between the two factors. Thus, while this is not necessarily inconsistent with results, there is no basis for such. Question 7 (126 words) Since the study is exploratory, it cannot bear definite conclusions. First, situational factors affect effective communication, such that different types of consultations require different skills and different degrees of effectiveness. Since the study did not compare the ratio between the numbers of effective episodes with the ratio that these effective episodes are either over-the-counter or prescription consultations, the effect of consultation types were not accounted for. The patient's views were not accounted for as well. Since communication is a two-way street, effective communication cannot be identified without affirmation from the patient. These factors, unaccounted for, are therefore crucial to arrive at more precise conclusions. However, this should not invalidate the results; instead, it only shows the importance of the research in provoking questions for further research. Question 8 (166 words) Given that the quality of practitioner-patient communication is crucial to effective healthcare, the study aims to comprehensively identify what constitutes effective communication skills between pharmacists and patient consultations within the community pharmacy. In conducting the analysis, constitutive ethnography was employed, placing the pharmacist at the center of investigation. A judgment sample of 15 pharmacists were recruited to participate, each of which was videotaped during patient consultations. These recordings were analyzed by the pharmacists themselves in a number of individual and group evaluations before synthesizing the list of identified skills. The study identified 11 major categories of skills, with 45 overlapping sub-skills. Among these, building rapport and explaining questions were deemed most important by pharmacists. Time, environment, and specific illnesses were also identified as factors that affect pharmacist-patient consultations. Such results provide significant insights on the manner that pharmacists view their performance in terms of effective communication. It also highlights the possible contribution of constitutive ethnography as a means to analyze the quality of practitioner communication skills. Read More