The Critical Review of Two Articles - Essay Example

Topic: Critical review Introduction Dementia and delirium are common diseases that affect the aged. Despite both diseases having a high prevalence rate among the elderly, they are mostly undetected by the people around. In a study carried out in care homes, nurses were unable to detect more than 70% of delirium cases. In the U.K, nurses largely do not recognize cases of dementia, despite having prevalence in the elderly that accounts to more than 14%. The age that mostly face undetection of this disease are the elderly ranging in the years 85 and above. This is a worrying statistic in that, the inability to diagnose these diseases on time, may lead to serious consequence for this overly vulnerable population. It is vital that the nurses should try to identify the symptoms of these two diseases in order to recognize them on time. Although these two ailments are hard to detect, the nurses, among the elderly patients with dementia, should try to identify the factors that is related to undetected dementia. Researchers have carried a scientific study on dementia, to determine the detection rates of delirium, and its symptoms. Patients’ sufferings from dementia have a higher chance of suffering from delirium and the mental confusion (Austin, Boyd & Austin, 2010, p278). The distinction between dementia, depression and delirium is hard to establish. These two diseases are similar, and one causes another making it even harder to distinguish the diseases. There is also a correlation between depression and the two diseases (Slavney, 1998, p 36). Distinguishing these diseases is critical since, delirium can be prevented. Nurses should be able to identify changes in patients’ behaviors in order to make a distinction. As a care home giver, it is critical to understand these ailments in order to make certain that the health of the residents is taken care of in the homes (Peacock, Hopton & Featherstone, 2012, p1). It is critical for the caregiver to be knowledgeable about these cases in order to try to understand the erratic behaviors displayed by the residents. The caregiver should be capable to pinpoint even the most subtle diversions from the patient’s behavior, in order to prevent these conditions. They should also know what changes in behavior that may be a symptom of delirium and dementia. This will ensure the nurses play a role in reducing the cases of these two diseases. Difference and Similarity of the Two Diseases Dementia and delirium are both mental ailment that affect the elderly in society. Mostly of the age bracket of 85 years and above. They affect the minds of the elderly and impair their cognitive functions. They also both refer to an extreme state of confusion or mental bewilderment. It may be hard to identify or distinguish the two, but in medicine, the two diseases have glaring differences. Dementia occurs when a person suffers from loss of some mental faculties leading to symptoms like disorientation, lack of coordination in their motor function, memory loss, and confusion, lack of control of the bladder and bowel functions, foul temper and impairment of judgment. These are the common symptoms experienced by patients with dementia (Slavney, 1998, p 36). The disease takes a long time to develop in a person’s body and progresses with age. In delirium, on the other hand, develops much faster than dementia and its symptoms become pronounced faster than in dementia. The symptoms include extreme confusion; delirium can be caused by factors like bladder infections, dehydration of a person, side effects of medicines and drug abuse, and may be related to alcohol abuse leading to withdrawal among others (Fletcher, & Fontaine, 1987, p 44). Other differences involving dementia and delirium include delirium is caused by psychological problems while dementia is caused by neurological degradation. In addition, delirium is preventable or can even be treated where dementia can only be managed but cannot be permanently cured. This means that dementia patients have to rely on medication (Byrne & Neville, 2009, p156). Methods Used To Reach Opinions in the Articles In both articles, the information was as a result of the findings of research, carried out on residents of care homes for the elderly. The reason for picking these studies is that the most number of cases of these two diseases occur to the aged. The data collected from this research was compiled to give a report of the findings through these articles. They contain accurate data in the form of percentages calculated from the findings, making the articles not only an opinion but also an opinion based on credible facts. The author of the secondary review on care homes used the method of collecting data through interviews of the staff of the care centers and recording the findings. This information was the foundation on which the writer based the research on, to come up with the conclusion that is the article (Peacock, Hopton & Featherstone, 2012, p1). The second article by BMC nursing written by Voyer et al, used statistical methods of collecting data through figures. The researcher employed scientific methods of collecting data and calculated the results using the data collected. This method is favorable in getting facts on a research question (Voyer et al, 2008, p3). How the Methods Informed the Conclusions The conclusions in these articles were formed after careful compilation and validation of the data collected from various sources. In the two articles, the secondary analysis by Peacock, Hopton, and Featherstone, the BMC nursing research article by Voyer et al, different approaches were used to conclude. In the secondary analysis, the researcher used a compilation of accounts from the staff that work in the care home on the issues of dementia and delirium to conclude the article. This was achieved through interviews on the nurses on the questions the researcher was attempting to answer the thesis questions on these diseases (Bickel, 1996, p 213). Through the interviews, the researcher got first hand information directly from the nurses: regarding the challenges, they face in detecting dementia. In the research article, the author used statistical data to conclude this article. The data enabled the researcher enumerate the findings into a more statistical based article. The two authors used two different routes to come to their conclusions on the subject (Zwakhalen, Hamerr & Berger, 2006, p 210). Which Article is Convincing The two articles used diverse approaches, to come to their conclusions. Both articles have tried to answer exhaustively on issues relating to dementia, and delirium, in the care homes for the elderly. Both authors employed various sources to compile their conclusions. The most convincing article was the BMC nursing research article by Voyer et al since statistical data was compiled. This data was collected using scientific validation process, making the material accurate, thus minimizing the chances for errors in the overall work of the author. In the other article on care homes by Peacock, Hopton, and Featherstone, the author uses human sources. Humans are not always accurate, in that they may offer data that is compromised. They may be prejudiced or biased hence making the information inaccurate. This makes the report more accurate in that, the data used is considered more reliable. The author also used scientific procedures for the compilation and collection of data (Baumbusch & Andrusyszyn, 2002, p 126). Relevance of the Sources The sources used in the two studies were relevant to the thesis formed by the researchers, which was to find out the number of incidences of undetected dementia and delirium to assist the nurses working in the care centers, to know how to combat this problem. Both researchers give the statistics on the existing case, and ways of handling the issue. The researchers give a detailed account on the issue, with clearly outlined sources and the methods used in the process. This will enable the readers of their articles, to determine the most appropriate article. Issues That Were Not Addressed The two researchers focused their attention on the issue of cases undetected dementia and delirium in the care homes. The most critical question is what can be done to avoid such scenarios and what is being currently done to address the problem. The two authors clearly identified the problem and explored its statistics and effects, but they failed to give adequate information on a vital topic, which is how the nurses can detect the cases and also the symptoms and signs that will make the identification of this cases possible. This vital topic should be tackled extensively in order to provide a solution. In order for any author or researcher aiming to help address a problem using their work, they should also offer solutions for the problem in order to make their work effective. Nurses looking for information on how to identify these cases will be disappointed in that the problem, has been well elaborated but the solution is inadequately talked about to help solve this problem. The nurses will have to research further using different information sources. This makes the article not to meet the expectations of readers. Opposing Views The two researchers have both talked about the topic on the undetected case of dementia and delirium in the care centers for the elderly. They both have a common topic, but they took different approaches in tackling the topic. They took different angles of tackling the topic. The secondary review the author has gone deeper into the causes of the undetected cases of dementia and delirium. The author goes on to talk about in detail how the nurses can identify the cases and deal with the issue in the future. The second author of the research article delved deeper into the statistical aspects of the cases of undetected dementia. The two authors are not necessarily opposing each other but have taken different approaches to tackle the topic. Bibliography Austin, W., Boyd, M., & Austin, W. (2010). Psychiatric & mental health nursing for Canadian practice. Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Baumbusch JL, Andrusyszyn MA,(2002), Gerontological content in Canadian baccalaureate nursing programs: cause for concern? The Canadian journal of nursing research = Revue canadienne de recherche en sciences infirmieres. Bickel H, (1996),The Hierarchic Dementia Scale: usage. Internationalpsychogeriatrics/IPA, Byrne, G., & Neville, C. (2009). Community mental health for older people. Chatswood, N.S.W., Elsevier Australia. Fletcher, J. S., & Fontaine, K. L. (1987). Essentials of mental health nursing. Reading, Mass, Addison-Wesley Pub. Co. Peacock.R, Hopton.A, Featherstone.I, (2012) Care home staff can detect the difference between Delirium, dementia and depression Slavney, P. R. (1998). Psychiatric dimensions of medical practice: what primary-care physicians should know about delirium, demoralization, suicidal thinking, and competence to refuse medical advice. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Press. Voyer. P, Richard.S, Doucet.L, Danjou.C, and Carmichae.P.H, (2008) Detection of delirium by nurses among long-term care residents with dementia BMC Nursing 2008, 7:4 Zwakhalen SM, Hamers JP, Berger MP, (2006). The psychometric qualityand clinical usefulness of three pain assessment tools for elderly people with dementia, Read More