Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults - Essay Example

? Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults 6th, January, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Evidence Based Practice requires clinicians to search relevant primary literature to respond to key clinical questions. There are millions of articles and other literature materials available for a certain course. However locating the best resources or the literature that answers a clinical question effectively is always an uphill task (Patrias, 1991). The internet and access to online libraries have improved clinical search for relevant literature. Medical databases also have millions of literature accessible to researchers (Adamson, Foster, Butler, & Walker, 2001). However, such resources have complicated literature search, necessitating establishment of sophisticated search strategies. This essay focuses on the literature searching process undertaken to obtain literature for my presentation. The first search strategy applied in the study is the use of well-build clinical questions. In this context, well-built research questions are questions deduced from the research topic such that they respond to key issues that forms the topic (Affuso, Capello, & Fratesi, 2011). My presentation addressed safeguarding vulnerable adults. I used the topic to formulate research questions for the presentation. The main questions considered for the search included: What causes vulnerability among adults? What is the variation in terms of vulnerability across gender and social class? (Thacker, 2011). What is role of the federal government in caring for vulnerable adults? In addition, what are the impacts of pension among vulnerable adults? The four questions were used to locate relevant literature from clinical databases. In each case the journal article or literature, material was selected according to its response to a particular question. For example Antonio, Roberta & Ugo (2011), argues that globalization and liberal social systems contribute to neglect of old people. Thus, the article responds to the second question, which is concerned with vulnerability across different genders and social class. Cooke-Hubley & Maddalena (2011), advocates for counseling and medical support for the elderly and other vulnerable groups. The article provides a precise response to the question concerning the causes of vulnerability among the adult population. Lastly, Payne (2008) analyzes strategies that could be applied to safeguard adults at end life. The article provides a sufficient response to the questions related to the impacts of pension on the elderly population. The second literature search strategy utilizes Key Words. Key words are words and phrases that form the basis of a research question. The key word strategy is the most commonly used strategy particularly when using electronic databases such as BNI, Medline, CINAHL, and ASSIA. Key word defines the boundaries of a particular search and, hence simplifies the search (Harvard, 2007). While using this strategy I used the already constructed research questions (Davies, & Nolan, 2006). Each of the research question was broken down into key words and phrases for easy search. In a particular search operation, key words were combined using Boolean operators to yield required results. Synonyms for key words are also required to facilitate the search. The following key words were developed from the research topic Safeguarding, Conservation, Protection, Defense vulnerable, liable, disposed, prone, subjected, adults, aged, elderly, and weak (Work, 2009). A particular combination of the key words yielded the required resource. Moreover, truncation of words was carried out to facilitate the search. Word truncation involves finding the base of key words. The following words are the basis for key words used in the search safe, conserve, and vuln* The following table provides a sample chart used to explore “Safeguarding vulnerable adults” using key words. Safeguarding Conservation Protection Defense Vulnerable Liable Disposed Prone Subjected Adults Aged elderly The search can be narrowed down by combining key words using Boolean connectors such as "And,” "Or" and "Not. For example Safeguarding* And Vulnerable* would yield results for articles related to protection of vulnerable members of the community (Henderson, Lynch & Wilkinson, 2007). Search results were filtered through to establish the most appropriate article for the search. On the other hand, search for Defense* and Vulnerable* would yield information related to protection of vulnerable members of the society. The Boolean operator “Not” narrows down the search by eliminating unnecessary terms from the search. For example, search for vulnerable Adults* Not Elderly* yielded results for articles on vulnerable adults and not the elderly. Consequently search for (Safeguarding* And Vulnerable* Not Caring) yields articles on safeguarding the right/ interests of vulnerable population and not caring. Thus, key words are essential in literature search. Although most of the literature is searched using keywords, they are not sufficient (Braye, Orr, & Preston-Shoot, 2012). This is because key words do not guarantee relevance of literature. In particular, key words only enable researcher to obtain the desired content or the range of content required for a certain study. Key words are general terms and, hence they yield general results, which require to be sought for relevance and credibility. Most online databases have filtering tools that enables researcher to sought or filter through search results. These tools include or exclude literature using search parameters such as age groups, language, type of material (e.g., dissertations, peer reviewed, abstracts, books, patients, records). Key words enable researchers to locate content efficiently. However, key words do not yield an absolute search. For instance, most of the literature used to produce the presentation was searched using titles or phrases contained in books or journal articles. Key words are unlikely to yield adequate or effective results. Consequently, the technique needs to be improved to make it more specific (Porter-O’Grady, 2003). For example, I included additional information to yield desired literature for my presentation. I also found it useful to conduct subsequent searches using information obtained from a previous search. This is a cumulative process, whereby results of a particular search are used to conduct subsequent searches. In this case, results could be phrases, questions, or additional key words. For example, the article “Adults with autism spectrum disorders and ADHD neuropsychological aspects” by Nyden Niklasson & Stahlberg (2010) was yielded in the first search. Later the title was used to develop additional key words for a more refined search. Most electronic libraries have a section for “Related Articles.” This section contains information on related articles or articles with similar content. This search strategy was found to be less innovative since it did not provide any new information. In addition, search results generated through this strategy often deviate from the required results. For example, the chain of results generated from Paterson, Jones & Rice (2007), “Ageing and physical activity: evidence to develop exercise recommendations for older adults” could not be used to generate alternative results. This is because the search results diverges or becomes more general at every step. In addition subsequent search results were found to contain articles on aging and healthy lifestyles among adults. The activity that yielded the presentation results would be helpful in future searches. The search process is usually content oriented; however, timely identification of articles is also necessary. For instance, the search needs to be more efficient in relation to time and search results. Using key words is a complicated and a time-consuming search strategy. Thus, researchers are concerned with strategies to improve search results. Such improvements would cater for timely retrieval of information and improve relevance of search results. Manthorpe et al (2010), considers vulnerability of adults as a management issue. His article analyzes vulnerability of adults from an economic perspective. Relevance of such resource depend on the context or timeframe under which, the resource is been reviewed. Therefore, the search activity that yielded the article needs to be reviewed for relevance. This could have been achieved by applying additional key words or avoiding general key words. Lastly, keeping a record of the search activities is an essential aspect of any study. While searching articles for the presentation, I was required both keep track of my search history. Most web browsers have an option that shows search history. However, this option does not keep sufficient record. Recording search results as a list of references is the most effective method for recording search history (Cahn, & Selden, 1992). However, the list of literature does not offer sophisticated options to search through the articles. For instance, the method does not provide explicit information on the articles or resources applied. Relevance of search history requires researchers to have a precise record of the search process. Advanced databases need to have an inbuilt system that record search history. Such databases or online libraries will require each of their members to have an individual account with login information (username and password). Once a member is logged into his/her account, the database would be able to record search history. Although search history is instrumental for further research, it is not reliable. This is because most studies are based on evolving or new topics and, therefore search history is not a requirement. In conclusion, literature search is an organized process used to search available literature on a particular topic. Availability of electronic libraries and databases has enhanced the search process. Key words are elementary words used when searching for literature. Effective combination of key words is instrumental in literature search. References Adamson, A. J., Foster, E., Butler, T. J. & Walker, M. (2001). Non-diabetic relatives of Type 2 diabetic families: dietary intake contributes to the increased risk of diabetes. Diabet. 18: 984–990. Affuso, A., Capello, R. C. & Fratesi, U. (2011). Globalization and Competitive Strategies in European Vulnerable Regions. Regional Studies, Vol. 45, No. 5. Braye, S., Orr, D., & Preston-Shoot, M. (2012). The governance of adult safeguarding: findings from research, Journal of Adult Protection, 14 (2): 55 – 72. Cahn, M. A., & Selden, C. (1992). Summary report on analysis of AHCPR guideline panel literature. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine. Cooke-Hubley, M. & Maddalena, L. (2011). Access to genetic testing and genetic counseling in vulnerable populations: the d/Deaf and hard of hearing population. Journal of Community Genetics. 1-9. Davies, S., & Nolan, M. (2006). Making it better: self-perceived roles of family caregivers of older people living in care homes: a qualitative study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 43: 281-291. Harvard, L. (2007). How to conduct an effective and valid literature search. This is an extended version of the article published in Nursing Times, 103: (45), 32-33. Henderson, A., Lynch, A., & Wilkinson, A. (2007). Adults with Down's syndrome: the prevalence of complications and health care in the community. 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Revue canadienne de sante publique, 98 (2) 122-132. Paterson, D., Jones, G. & Rice, C.L. Ageing, and physical activity: evidence to develop exercise recommendations for older adults. Canadian journal of public health. Revue canadienne de sante publique, (98): 2. Patrias, K. (1991). National Library of Medicine recommended formats for bibliographic citation. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine; Report No.: NLM-LO-91-01. Payne, M. (2008). Safeguarding Adults at End of Life: Audit and Case Analysis in a Palliative Care Setting. Journal of Social Work in End-Of-Life & Palliative Care. 3(4), 31-46. Porter-O’Grady, T. (2003). A different age for leadership, Part 1. Journal of Nursing Administration, 33(2), 105-110. Thacker, H. (2011). Safeguarding adults' referrals in the Eastern region: an investigation into varying referral rates, Journal of Adult Protection, 13 (3): 137 – 149. Work, B., (2009). Safeguarding and System Change: Early Perceptions of the Implications for Adult Protection Services of the English Individual Budgets Pilots. A Qualitative Study, 39(8): 1465-1480. Read More