Critical Thinking Part Two - Assignment Example

The phenomenon of interest for the study appears to be risk of reoccurrence of cancer in cancer survivors 4. Abstract: The essential contents of the research are included in the abstract. The research question, focus methods, analysis, and major findings were summarized in the abstract: Background: Recent research shows that cancer survivors are at greater risk of developing cancer than the general population. Although recommended, many cancer survivors receive no regular cancer screening. Cancer survivors’ perceptions of their second cancer risk are, in part, suspected to influence their participation in cancer screening.

Objective: This study was conducted to explore how cancer survivors define and interpret second cancer risk. Methods: An interpretive descriptive approach was taken whereby semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 cancer survivors (16 women and 6 men) drawn from a provincial cancer registry. The sample ranged in age from 19 to 87 years. The cancer history of the participants varied. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method of data analysis. Results: The overall theme, ‘‘life after cancer living with risk,’’ described cancer survivors’ sense that risk is now a part of their everyday lives.

Two themes emerged from the data that speak to how cancer survivors lived with second cancer risk: (1) thinking about second risk and (2) living with risk: a family affair. Conclusions: Effective risk communication to support the decisions made by cancer survivors with respect to cancer screening is warranted. Implications for Practice: Study results provide foundational knowledge about the nature of second cancer risk that may be used to develop and refine standards for survivorship care including how second cancer risk can be best managed. 5. The Research Problem: The research problem is to determine how cancer survivors define and interpret second cancer risk (488).

The question objectives are clearly identified: to understand the risk of second cancer and be able to communicate that risk to a cancer survivor in an effective manner. The rationale for selecting the significance of the problem is clearly identified. According to the study, there is a lack of information regarding cancer risk among cancer survivors. Performing a study that analyzes this risk helps cancer survivors understand their risk of reoccurrence better. While no independent or dependent variables were identified, the study was carefully outlined by the author to include sample size, age range, and data collection methods.

Operational definitions of terms were provided for a clear understanding of the study. A person-centered, open-ended interviewing approach was used when the participants were interviewed (489). 6. Review of Literature: Review of the literature is not relevant to the study, because there have been no conclusive studies in the past involving cancer survivors and their risk. The relationship of the problem to previous research is clear. The authors use statistics about the possibility of reoccurrence to provide a baseline for their own research.

Primary sources are used, since the authors cited 19 other sources when writing their article. Secondary sources are not used, only primary sources. The range of years for the review of the literature is from 1999 to 2010. The authors clearly identify what is known and not known about the phenomenon of interest, and use that information as a baseline for th