Data collection methods - Assignment Example

?RUNNING HEAD: DATA COLLECTION METHODS AND ANALYSIS. Data Collection Methods and Analysis Nursing Part one Describe the data collection methodology. What instruments were used? The authors prescribed and used a three group repeated measure design. The study was done on groups of consenting patients receiving home care from a non profit hospice. The care givers chosen were subjected to experimental training in the COPE (acronym creativity, optimism, planning, and expert information) intervention, on symptoms management. Instruments used were the numeric rating scale. NRS was used to measure the intensity of pain with zero representing no pain gradually increasing to ten that represents the worst or most intense pain. The dyspnea intensity scale was used to rate the intensity of dyspnea on a (0-10) scale. The constipation assessment scale, which is an eight item, three point that is - patients describe their states no problem, some problem and severer problem, summated rating scale whose function is to detect the presence of constipation and subsequently measure its intensity. The memorial symptom assessment scale (MSAS) that measures the distress caused by a symptom. The last instrument is the Hospice Index Quality-Of-Life Index HQLI. 2)      What did the authors say about the reliability and validity of their instruments? The NRS was found to be reliable; this was ascertained by comparing its results with those found by using other scales such as the visual analogue scale, the box scale, verbal rating scale and a four point and five-point verbal rating scale. It was found that there were similar results in the number of subjects who responded correctly therefore supporting the predictive validity of each measure. The validity of the dyspnea scale was based on the opinions of previous scholars, (McCord and Cronin-Stubbs 1992; Silvestri & Mahler). As for the constipation assessment scale, the authors rated this instrument as sensitive and reliable, owing to the test retest that provided a brief delay that was seen as a strong evidence of reliability. (MSAS) was rated as valid by the authors because of its high correlations with clinical status and QOL. The Hospice Index Quality-Of-Life Index was rated as valid because of its ability to differentiate between hospice patients and apparently healthy controls. 3)      What limitations did the authors face in data collection? How could these have been lessened or minimized? Challenges faced in data collection included the study was conducted on a hospice population and therefore there was slow accrual and high attrition. Another factor is that they had a small sample and therefore could not conduct model testing. 4)      What demographic information was reported? Demographic information includes the age of the participants. The level of education the participants had attained and in terms of in years. The genders of the participants whether they were male or female. 5)      What were the variables that were studied? The variables tested include the intensity of pain, constipation, QOL , symptoms distress and dyspnea. 6)      Did there exist any inferential tests used in the scrutiny of raw data in this study? If so, what were they? There were inferential tests. This were based on the findings of bodies such as the national hospice and palliative care organization (2005), the findings mirrored those of the author for instance; close to 63% of patients are 75 years and older and therefore don’t last long, they die shortly after joining the hospice. 7)      Discuss the use of any figures, graphs and tables. Was the information conveyed in an understandable and meaningful way? The author has used a flow chat giving the detailed progress of the dyads in the study. The chat is clear and straight to the point. The author has also used a graph indicating the progress of the patients in response to the cope intervention and the progress of those who were receiving standard care and support, the graph is clear and easy to interpret because it has few variables and it has a clear key. For instance it is clear that participants who received COPE intervention scored low on symptoms distress. The tables however require a keen eye and a slight knowledge of mathematics limiting its use to a keen eye and mathematics literates; however the contents are well represented. Part two 8)      Describe the data collection procedure. The 1st step is to read the transcripts several times to familiarize yourself with the text. Seek the opinion of qualitative researchers who have reviewed transcripts and discuss the research questions, what are the key codes and quotations. Confirm the accuracy of the coded quotations and file them. Group key coded quotations for each research question and identify the main themes involved. Have another meeting again, review the major themes again and have a “debate” in view of the coded quotations to get rid of any discrepancies. Finally re-review the transcripts validate the themes’ structures along with the interview data. 9)      How did the authors address the reliability and validity of their methods? They addressed their methods by the Phenomenology method that involved the use of secondary qualitative analysis. This method is reliable and valid because according to Thorne (1998) the value of qualitative secondary analysis could be supported through the use of constant comparative method that involves interspersing immersion and distance. In this case the women picked spaced up and all they shared was their cancer experiences. Secondly the study does not involve the account of only one woman but 13 of them plus they were all of different ages and backgrounds 10)     What limitations could the authors face when using secondary data for analysis? Secondary data in most cases is prone to errors such as bias and inaccuracy in giving account of events. Manipulation of data to fit the sources interests, for instance the women may have been tempted to exaggerate their post cancer distress and other experiences. Most cases secondary data comes from people who are non specialists so it cannot be termed as reliable. 11) What demographic information was reported by the authors? The gender of the participants, in this case the target was women. The age of the participants, the women were picked from an age range of 33-74. Another demographic aspect was also the number of the participants, 13 to be exact who had been cancer survivors for a range of 1-18 years. The language spoken in this case is English. 12)     What were the variables that were studied? The first variable is ongoing symptoms, these are symptoms that were there during the cancer period but that persisted even after the patient had been treated and had been declared cancer free. This includes headaches, dizziness, being tired all the time having blackouts. The second variable is unexpected experiences that the participants might have gone through after the cancer period was over, the findings indicate varying experiences but which had a shocking or negative impact to the cancer survivor for instance one waitress could not lift a tray of food and this made her come into conflict with her manager who insisted that she get a note from the doctor, another had to change her job to involve less flying because each time the plane took off she felt intense pressure that was so uncomfortable on her chest. The third variable is breast cancer symptoms distress. This was found to have a direct link to the first two variables in that theses women were not prepared for ongoing symptoms or unexpected experiences and this led to them being distressed about their situation. 13)     Did there exist any inferential tests used in the scrutiny of raw data in this investigation? If so, what were they? The author in this case studied their previous phenomenological data on survivor loneliness to give them ground to start this study. It was therefore clear to the author from the start that the feeling of loneliness experienced by the cancer survivors contributes a great deal to the distress symptoms. 14)     Discuss the use of any figures, graphs and tables. Was the information conveyed in an understandable and meaningful way? The author has included a Venn diagram that has tried to explain the relationship between temporal situational and attributive dimensions of post cancer symptoms and experiences and their eventual impact on an individual. In this diagram the result or the impact of these three dimensions is symptom distress one of the main variables being studied by the author. This information is very direct and easy to interpret and therefore understand. References McMillan, S. C., & Small, B. J. (2007). Using the COPE intervention for family caregivers to improve symptoms of hospice homecare patients. Oncology Nursing Forum, 34(2), 313-21. Rosedale, M., & Fu, M. R. (2010). Confronting the unexpected: Temporal, situational, and attributive dimensions of distressing symptom experience for breast cancer survivors. Oncology Nursing Forum, 37(1), 28-33. Read More