Critiquing Consultations Between Nurse Prescribers and Patients with Diabetes in Primary Care - Essay Example

Critiquing Consultations between nurse prescribers and patients with diabetes in primary care: A qualitative study of patient views by Karen L. Stenner, Molly Courtenay and Nicola Carey Name Professor: Institution: Course: Date: The context of this essay is to analyze the research article by Steiner et al (2011) entitled, “consultations between the nurse practitioners and patients with diabetes in primary care: A qualitative study of patient views.” diabetes is a long-term condition that entails causing the blood sugar level of the patient to rise. Thus, this essay seeks to explore critically the elemental development of the research study published in the International Journal of Nursing by Steiner et al, (2011). In analyzing the article, this essay follows through the framework outlined by Caldwell, Henshaw and Taylor (2010), to evaluate the positive and negative elements of the writers and publishers of the article, as they pursued their study. The essay concludes with the featured research processes and discussions, as well as, the implications of the study on the practice. Evidence based practice is important in nursing because it aims to give evidence of the strength and weakness in nursing. It provides a basis for setting standards and giving quality assurance and to give the term evidence based practice scientific credibility (Cormack, 2000).additionally, the nurse gains the skills and up to date knowledge to evaluate healthcare literature and practice (Parahoo, 2006) A research critique is imperative to highlight the strengths and weakness of the worth the study (Parahoo, 2006). The article is grammatically correct; it avoids the use of jargons. According to Feldman, 2004 the article writing presentation ought to be in such a way that it attracts the reader’s attention; hence, the procedural evaluation of the article reveals that Steiner et al (2011) followed the essential features of presenting a study. The Title The processes of undertaking the treatment procedures for patients suffering diabetes in primary care involve the cooperation of the nurse prescribers and patients accordingly. Thus, in view of the study as proposed by Steiner et al, (2011), the topic of the study reflects the processes entailed in the effectively. Notably the topic adds that it is a qualitative study of the patient views, giving the reader or evaluator of the study an understanding and overview idea of what to expect in pursuing the contents of the essay. The growing demand for a better care in the management of diabetes among nursing practitioners cause members of the primary care fraternity understand the need to improve their response to patients in order to ensure patients manage their conditions with comfort. Further, the title has 11 words, meeting the criteria of a quality tile, which is between 8 and 15 words. Thus, it is a practice for nursing practitioners to include patients’ views while diagnosing diabetes; hence, the incorporation of the topic, consultations between nurse prescribers and patients, as it describes both stakeholders in managing the diabetes condition. Thus, the title reflects the content of the study effectively. The Authors It is imperative for researchers to have the adequate qualifications for undertaking a successful research study. Thus, in context of the article, the active researchers all hold a PHD degree and in they do not conduct research as individuals. This realization adds to the credibility of the authors in publishing the article, considering that they also have expansive experience and understanding into the field of nursing practice and have a record of research. The qualifications and experience of the researchers indicates a remarkably high degree of knowledge in the field. However, it is essential to note that, as not all research is valid due to the qualification and experience of the researcher as Conkin Dale (2005) states. Additionally, the article publication in the International Journal of Nursing and its research work’s acceptance on 10th June 2010 for publication shows that the journal is credible. Further, this leads to the presumption that it passed through peer review. Peer review enhances the credibility of a journal since it approves the journal and recommends it for publishing (Gerrish & Lancey, 2006). Thus, the journal is credible. Abstract The abstract concisely summarizes the study, providing the overview of the entire research publication (Kinmonth, 1998 p 1202). In view of the article as Steiner et al (2011) present the work, it is notable that they incorporate the essential elements of consideration in developing the abstract. As an introductory overview of the publication, the researchers facilitate a clear description of the research contents to create interest in the case of the readers of the research. The abstract of this article presents a clear overview of the study, facilitating the elemental aspects of the study. It highlights the entire background of the study, the objective, design, setting, participants, methodology, results and conclusions. Further, it offers a thematic analysis of the findings. Thus, the abstract presents the entire context of the article, with all essential features of a successful abstract in place. The Rationale for the Research In presenting the research aim, it is notable that the authors of the research presented a clear phenomenon for the study. The authors present the introductory phenomenon, which follows through with the research question consistently (Conkin 2005, p 184). The research question as identified entails exploring the views of the patients about nurse prescribing and their relations with the diabetes nurse practitioner. The research as presented is significant to the nursing practice, to enable them critically evaluate their ideas and experiences, as well as, apply the learnt information to inform their practice (Parahoo, 2006). The authors of the study clearly sated the aim of the research; it was to describe patients’ perception about their consultation with a nurse prescriber and to identify the impact of better consultation style in individuals’ life. Literature Review Literature review entails the procedural evaluation of a body of literature as relates to the particulate topic in study. The researchers of the topic in consideration evaluate and review past researches and publications on the topic they are studying to evaluate the information available on the subject. The literature entails the references of the study, its basics and basis in establishing its rationale. Therefore, in view of the article as Steiner et al (2011) present, they considered the elemental aspects of literature review accordingly. The study as the article presents the philosophical support in literature as evidenced by the references in context. Thus, the literature review is comprehensive and extensive. However, it is notable that some of the literature referenced such as such as (Hardey, 1998) and (Greenfield et al., 1988) is not up-to-date. There are previous researches on the diabetes; however, they never sought the views of patients on diabetes. Nonetheless, the study helps in generating useful information for improving the efficiency and quality of the service in the nursing practice for individuals with diabetes. Ethical Issues Ethics are an essential element for consideration in any research process, as the article findings need approval before publishing (Ciechanowski, 2001 p 31). Therefore, as researchers pursue a study, they ought to seek permission from the relevant authorities before conducting the study. They obtained approval from Berkshire Research ethics committee and University of Reading ethical committee and the permission to conduct the study from both University and NHS ethics committees and research and development approval obtained in each primary care trust. Further, after obtaining the permission and considering the elemental aspects of the participants to observe ethical codes of research processes. They sent information sheet and invitation letter to the participants, gave them time and right to decide whether to participate in the study. The researchers in the article followed the procedures accordingly, observing the features of ethics as is necessary. After developing the proposal, they got funding for the study from the educational grant from Sanofi-Aventis, who had no influence on the processes of the study other than facilitating funding. Thus, in this context, Steiner et al (2011), observed the ethical considerations accordingly in proceeding with the study. Methodology The research methodology entails the entire significant section of the study. It provides the researchers with the procedural outline to pursue in collecting, recording, analyzing and discussion data for publication as findings of the study. Thus, in this section, the article featured the prominent aspects of qualitative approach and thematically addressing the features of the section accordingly. The qualitative and quantitative approach have differences in the nature, a qualitative approach focuses on exploration of human experience, perceptions, motivation, behaviour and intention. The purpose of the qualitative approach is to gain better understanding of the topic; it is structure less, and bases on thoughts, feeling, words, and patterns (Parahoo, 2006). Thus, since the study explores the views of the patients as relates to the subject of diabetes care,; thus, the qualitative approach as chosen by the researchers in the article is remarkably effective and applicable. The study methodology section identifies the variables accordingly and describes them the phenomenon as entailed in pursuing the research. The researchers flee from influence of their personal preferences accordingly; hence, the study reflects the true experiences of the participants as they relate to the study. Further, the major concepts of the study as identified include, the patients presenting their views on the consultations sessions with the nurse prescribers as they facilitate the services to them. The research as presented sourced the data from varied locations. Thus, they used semi-structured interviews with the patients and nurses that participated in the research study. Notably, the majority of UK patients with diabetes receive primary care from the prescribers in the primary care settings. Therefore, in collecting data for the study, the researchers followed through the interviews, which lasted between 30 to 40 minutes and recorded them via audio records. The interviews covered the elemental information describing the background information, views and experiences of the participants within the clinical setting. The data collection process took place from January to June in 2009, hence, facilitating adequate time for the process. Thus, observing form these aspects of the research as conducted by Steiner et al (2011), it is notable that they featured the elemental aspects of qualitative approach in identifying their variables, the participants, noting essential components and conducting data collection in the guidelines of qualitative research approach. Result presentation and Analysis In presenting and analyzing the data from the study, the researchers identified the thematic analysis approach as most appropriate for the research design. Karen L. Stenner and Nicola Carey undertook the presentation and result analysis from the various elemental categories of the allocated primary observations as reviewed using the frameworks presented by Braun and Clark (2006). The researchers used the aid of computer software, through the ATLAS Ti. The analysis entailed observing the meaningful similarities in the data and grouped them accordingly as they analyzed the collected data. The thematic map was essential in relating to the research question as developed in the rationale of the research. The study explored and supported the themes through a number of sub-themes and main point illustrated from the study was anonymous quotations followed by codes in brackets that were indicated by the numbers. The results presentation was in a way that is appropriate and clear, there were numbers that make it easy to interpret and understand the findings. There was results comparison and contrasting with the length of the time since diagnosis of diabetes and number of the visit in the primary care; this indicated that patient experiences of dealing with their diabetes are more improved. Therefore, observing form the elemental features of a successful result analysis process, Steiner et al (2011) followed the analysis process accordingly for the success of the study. Discussion The findings of the study entail the elemental aspects of a successful research process. The researchers discussed the study findings accordingly as they followed through the essential features of the research (Venning, 2000, p 1049). The discussion section included the areas for comparison with the nursing practice practitioners as they conduct their service to the students. The implication of the research findings on the practice was also in consideration as the researchers sought to establish the thesis of their study. Further, Steiner et al (2011) evaluated the implications of their findings as they relate to the contextual application in improving the quality of care. Further, they also featured the areas of recommendation and limitations to the study as they relate to the study in context. Their findings show that the limitation of the study is that it did not include the views of all patients interviewed. Further, the transferability of the findings is questionable, implying that the generalization and applicability of the findings as discussed may not be reliable (Campbell, 2007, p 184). The study also discussed efforts as entailed in enhancing the quality of data, qualifying their findings through their experience in qualitative research. Thus, observing form these elements of the study, the research followed the essential features of effective discussion of the findings. Thus, the researchers’ findings and discussion is reliable in this perspective. Conclusion The study confirms that the nurse prescribers contribute significantly in the provision of recommended service improvements. The researchers establish the essential base of knowledge and benefits as relates to the course of their research (Ryan, Coughlan & Cronin, 2007, p 741). Further, additional to these features included in the conclusion, the researchers also facilitate the recommendation features as they apply in the course of their study. Thus, the conclusion of the research journal by Steiner et al (2011) is compliant to the elemental features of successful research conducted, analysed and discussed accordingly. The conclusion meets the aim of the research as the conclusion indicates. Bibliography Ciechanowski, P.2001. "The patient-provider relationship: attachment theory and adherence to treatment in diabetes." American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(1), pp.29-35. Campbell, S.2007. "Quality of primary care in England with the introduction of pay for performance." New England Journal of Medicine, 357(2), pp.181-190. Conkin Dale, J. (2005). Critiquing research for use in practice: Journal of Paediatric Healthcare. 19, (3), P.183-186. Cormack, D. (ed). (2000). The Research process in Nursing. 4th ed. Oxford; Blackwell Sciences Limited. P.7-17 Dale, A.E. 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