The Path to Self-Management - Essay Example

Qualitative Research Critique Qualitative Research Michelle, P., Mark, W., Michelle, M., K., A., Marshall, G., & Mark, S. .The Path to Self-Management. A Qualitative Study Involving Older People with Multiple Sclerosis, 6-7. The title ‘The Path to Self-Management: Qualitative Study Involving Older People with Multiple Sclerosis’ describes the study clearly and concisely. The title indicates that the study is qualitative in nature, with the topic being the path to self management. The study population is well defined; old people with multiple sclerosis (Michelle, Mark, Michelle, Marshall, & Mark, 2012). The abstract outlines the purposes, methods used to conduct the study, the results of the data collected, and the conclusions. The abstract in this study is in itself adequate. It presents the whole research from the objectives of the research, through the whole process and presents a conclusion of study at the end. The highlights on the purposes of the study outline what the study is all about, and this is critical in the beginning of any research where the reasons for conducting the research should be presented to the readers before the main body to give the guidelines on what to expect. The outlines on the methods used and the results of the data collected give the reader insight on the whole process and all the techniques applied during the research operation. The conclusions in the abstract highlight the whole process operations, findings and recommendations. The abstract gives an overview of the whole research paper; from the introduction through to conclusion (Fong, Finlayson, & Peacock, 2006). The researchers, Michelle Ploughman and the clue are from the Eastern Health, faculty of medicine from the Memorial University. They work in coalition with the people who are disabled of St. John’s Newfoundland from the Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland. From the institutions they work with, it is clear that they are closely affiliated with the medical field. The institutions that these companies work with are well reputed in matters dealing with medicine and hence they can undertake the studies on patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. Also, the study was supported by personnel in the faculty of medicine, Memorial University. Also, the authors had the support of Center of the Applied Health Research in Canada and the healthcare foundation. This further indicates clearly that the researchers were qualified to undertake the study to warrant the support of the reputable departments from the faculty of medicine. This is an article in Physiotherapy journal, Canada, Vol 64, No 1 from page number 6 to 17 (Michelle, Mark, Michelle, Marshall, & Mark, 2012). The problem in this research has been stated clearly. It is stated that the problem has been more prevalent among women more than in men. Some years after the diagnosis, we learn that the course becomes chronologically progressive, and after twenty years, most people rely on mobility aids. As a result, there is a need for carrying out research to facilitate the understanding on the natural history of the MS management from the perspective of older people and help the older people as well as to help the participants alleviate fearful feelings associated with MS diagnosis. The research team decided on a qualitative study after considering the aims of the study, they also considered the literature, advocacy and discussions with MS patients. The philosophical underpinning in this research is demonstrated where the efforts by health providers are described as uni-lateral, misdirected and futile hence the need for establishing how to help people suffering from MS, to enhance self management. The health professionals are called upon to facilitate self management instead of obscuring it (DalMonte, Finlayson, & Helfrich, 2004). The purpose of the research is explicitly defined. It is clearly stated in the abstract that the study sought for exploring the experience of older people who are ageing with multiple sclerosis in order to describe the self management history from their perspective. The paper states that to date, information regarding the natural cause for ageing with MS is insufficient, and there is the need for critical information in the future towards development of the programmes of MS self-management. The qualitative study used interviews to collect data. This was effective since the questions were directed to all the participants where they acted by filling in the forms. To explore the experiences of people ageing with MS, a method engaging every participant to give information on their experience is critical. Hence the administration of interview with well designed questions to the participants was appropriate. Interviews were necessary to obtain information from the participants due to the well-structure questions that covered all the appropriate information required for the study (Einarsson, Gottberg, & Fredrikson, 2006). The data collection methods focused on human experience where the participants gave their experiences with MS. For instance, the participants were to give the demographic information, their experience with MS and what they usually do in order to remain healthy. The strategies for using interview are clearly demonstrated, where the researcher indicates that the decision to use interviews was reached after considering the aims of the study and experiences in the community advocacy. The setting is described where every participant had to choose the location and the interviews were to be characterized by introduction, consent and the collection of the data, by engaging the participants in interviews for 60-80 minutes. Participants gave the information based on the interview questions and facilitation of adequate information for analysis. The researchers developed provisional coding system for themes and sub-themes. The NVIVO software was used in analyzing data. The analysis of the data involved getting all the responses from the interview questions and compiling the responses. The researcher gave a detailed analysis of the data based on the responses. The researchers gave analyzed all the responses, and this is clearly indicated through the responses analyzed and their correspondence to the sample population described at the beginning of the research. The methods used in analyzing data are clearly understood by the reader since they categorize the responses on the various groups. The researcher also addresses credibility and fittingness where the participants are described as embraced the study and considered it as a move towards solving their issues. The results from this study can be applied in the rehabilitation of people and providers with multiple sclerosis on the structure, optimal timing and content for the MS self management programmes. This can be helpful to other people outside this context who wish to improve the self determination as well as strong problem solving capabilities. The findings of this research are already documented, and conclusions made. However, the researcher indicated that the findings were influenced by backgrounds of the participants. It is said that the participants described the facilitators, inhibitors and knowledge on the experiences of ageing with MS. The reader easily apprehends the experience of the report findings which are well outlined in the report that from the findings presented, then they can Endeavour to enhance early experiential learning for those living with MS in order to promote early implementation and health, as well as the integration of MS in self management. Based on the findings, the research developed a conceptual model for decade-long natural history for MS self-management (Leray & Yaouanq, 2010). The conclusion of the study gives the objectives of the study and reflects on the findings of the study. The study was aimed at seeking the self-management to people ageing with MS, and the participants participated fully, and they were able to gain knowledge on the diversity of experiences with MS. The study also developed a conceptual model for use in the future to enable critical data on people experiences with MS and self-management. Also, the conclusion indicates that the findings are applicable to the implementation of help-promoting activities in nursing. Knowledge on self-determination is also critical in maintaining the relationship between the coping and aided adaptation by the health professionals. References DalMonte, J., Finlayson, M., & Helfrich, C. (2004). DalMonte J, Finlayson M, Helfrich C. In their own words: coping processes among women aging with multiple sclerosis. Occup Ther HealthCare 17(3/4), 115–137. Einarsson, U., Gottberg, K., & Fredrikson, S. (2006). Activities of daily living And social activities in people with multiple sclerosis in Stockholm County. ClinRehabil 20(6), 543–551. Fong, T., Finlayson, M., & Peacock, N. (2006). The social experience of aging with a chronicillness: perspectives of older adults with multiple sclerosis. DisabilRehabil 28 (11), 695–705. Leray, E., & Yaouanq, J. (2010). Evidence for a two-stage disability progression in multiple sclerosis. Brain 133 (7), 1900–1913. Michelle, P., Mark, W., Michelle, M. K., Marshall, G., & Mark, S. (2012). The Path to Self-Management. A Qualitative Study Involving Older People with Multiple Sclerosis, 6-17. Read More