Critique summary of a research study - Essay Example

Critique Summary of a Research Study Summarily speaking, the article seeks to understand why certain individuals have a shorter recovery time for a case of Delirium as compared to others. The main objective was to understand and identify the factors which are associated with the recovery from the disease for the short and long terms. The method used to identify the factors was a cohort study which followed eighty elderly patients over time to see how they recovered from the ailment. Eventually, the results of the study showed that pre-existing frailty, cardiac causes and poor diagnosis lead to worse results while the better provision of care and early diagnosis lead to improved results.

The purpose of the study was further described in the background section which clarified that delirium is a rather common occurrence in frail older adults and there is a need for the development of an understanding concerning the factors which influence recovery. The paper further suggests that the results from this study can be used to influence care management and other procedures at hospitals in order to improve the detection and recovery process.The methods section of the study shows that the research conducted concerning the selection and identification of the patients was excellent.

The researchers went to great lengths to get the data they needed about the patients. The patient sampling all had baseline mobility and could certainly show increased dependence for care services if their conditions worsened somehow and this was an important factor for this study. Procedures for the study included an interview at the time of admission to the hospital and a follow-up interview after six months which gave the patients further questions to answer.The primary strength of the study is that it leads to conclusive results which allow hospital managers and working staff to use this study as a part of their operational guidelines.

For example, knowing that frailty and a poor diagnosis can lead to worse outcomes, caregivers can be aware that a patient who is frail may have problems such as delirium in tow with other medical conditions. Similarly, the study can also raise the importance of recognizing delirium as a possible cause for the problems faced by a patient.The weakness which is present in the study (which was also acknowledged by the scientists conducting the study) is that the sample size was very small to draw overall general conclusions which are universally applicable.

The sample size of 77 of which only 50 could be found after six months is surely too small but the study does point in the right direction for further evaluation of the topic and further research on delirium.Works CitedAndrew, M., Freter, S. and Rockwood, K. (2005).Incomplete functional recovery after delirium in elderly people: a prospective cohort study. BMC Geriatrics, 5(5), 1-8.Word Count: 478