Fatigue and Sleep Disturbance in HIV-Positive Women: A Qualitative and Biomedical Approach by Wei-Ti Chen - Article Example

Critical Literature Review of the article “Fatigue and Sleep Disturbance in HIV-Positive Women: A Qualitative and Biomedical Approach” Name Course Instructor Institution Date Title and Abstract The research paper titled “Fatigue and sleep disturbance in HIV-positive women: a qualitative and biomedical approach” was written by Wei-Ti Chen, Shih-Yu Lee, Cheng-Shi Shiu, Jane M Simoni, Chengen Pan, Meijuan Bao, and Hongzhou Lu in 2012. The title of this paper is appropriately designed to accurately capture what the study seeks to explore. The article itself can be considered to be credible, as evident by the credibility of its authors; all the authors have credible educational and professional backgrounds. Wei-Ti Chen, for instance, is an assistant professor in the School of Nursing at Yale University, New Haven; Shih-Yu Lee, is an associate professor in Byrdine Lewis school of nursing at Georgia State University, Atlanta; while Cheng-Shi Shiu is a doctoral candidate in the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago (Chen et al. 2012). Others include Jane Simoni who is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at University of Washington; Chengen Pan who is a nurse at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai; Meijuan Bao who is a nursing director at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai; and Hongzhou Lu who is an executive director at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center in Shanghai, China (Chen et al. 2012). The paper also has an abstract that provides a concise overview of the research. The abstract identifies the research problem and outlines the methods used, main findings and recommendations. The main aim of this study, as outlined in the abstract, is to examine how sleep and energy levels were affected in Chinese women diagnosed with HIV in China employing the Actiwatch actigraphy system to collect data on the women’s sleep characteristics (Chen et al. 2012). The abstract also states that interview method was used to collect data in this research, and the findings were then tabulated and conclusion made based on the research findings. Introduction The research paper has a concise introduction that clearly outlines various key aspects, such as the research problem, rationale of the research, and the need for the research proposed. From the introduction, it is clear that the research problem is worldwide AIDS pandemic, which according to the authors, has become a major impetus for recent global perspective on health (Chen et al. 2012). The rationale for the research on this problem can be explained by the fact that worldwide AIDS pandemic is one of the areas in which the behavioral and biomedical expertise of nursing science is acutely needed. The study focuses on examining how sleep and energy levels are affected in women diagnosed with HIV. The rationale for the research is also informed by the information presented in the relevant and up-to-date literatures that are cited in this paper. For instance, according to Marion et al. (2009), sleep disturbances are a common issue among people infected with HIV, and those who are highly fatigued from sleep disturbances are more susceptible to other negative consequences of fatigue because of the psychosocial stress they undergo (Marion et al. 2009). It is these assertions and claims that explains the rationale for this research. In essence, this study seeks to prove the claims and assertions presented in the existing literatures. Literature Review and Problem Statement This paper contains a comprehensive literature review of relevant up-to-date literatures. The study adopted a framework that appears to have been formulated within the quantitative research paradigm. The paper presents diverse points of view from different sources, the need for the research proposed, as well as the research problem in this particular study. The need for this research is informed by the information presented in the relevant up-to-date literatures and previous studies that are cited in this paper. AIDS is one of the major pandemics facing people around the globe, and for this reason it has become a major impetus for recent global perspective on health (Fischer, 2009). The pandemic is one of the areas in which the behavioral and biomedical expertise of nursing science is acutely needed. This study seeks to establish how sleep and energy levels are affected in women diagnosed with HIV. Existing research reports show that sleep disturbance is a common phenomenon among people infected with HIV, and those who are highly fatigued from sleep disturbances are more susceptible to other negative consequences of fatigue because of the psychosocial stress they undergo (Marion et al. 2009). Other studies also show that fatigue is one of the prevalent and devastating signs of HIV infection, and that women experience more severe fatigue and perceive a higher level of stress than men. This study therefore seeks to establish how sleep and energy levels are affected in women diagnosed with HIV, by exploring how sleep and energy levels were affected in Chinese women diagnosed with HIV in China using the Actiwatch actigraphy system to collect data on the sleep characteristics of women (Chen et al. 2012). Research Methodology The research methods used in this study, such as sampling, analyzing, interviewing, are clearly explained and justified in the research methodology section of the article. It is very clear that the research methods used in the study are consistent with qualitative research approach. According to Creswell (2008), qualitative research basically entails exploration of issues, answering questions, and understanding of phenomena (pp. 68). One major advantage of qualitative research is that it allows one to examine the experiences of people in detail, by using a particular set of research techniques such as observation, visual methods, focus group discussions, biographies or life histories, content analysis, and interviews (Savin-Baden & Major, 2013). The other most distinctive characteristic of qualitative research methodology is that it enables the researcher to establish issues from the viewpoint of his or her research participants, and comprehend the interpretations and meanings that they give to events, objects or behavior (Bowling, 2012). The approach, for instance, enables a researcher to understand the participants’ experiences of particular illnesses, such as those that occur as a result of HIV infection. Denzin and Lincoln (2011), state that qualitative research adopts an interpretive approach to research. It is valid to argue that this study utilized qualitative research approach because it generally entails analysis of unstructured data such as open-ended interview responses and literature reviews, which are typically associated with qualitative researches (pp. 73). In essence, it is very clear from the above explanations that this particular study adopted qualitative research approach. Interview method was used to collect data in this study; a checklist was used to collecting responses from the participants’ regarding their perceptions of sleep disturbances and fatigue both before and after their HIV diagnosis. Before the interview, however, sampling method was used to identify and enroll a sample of women who were suffering from HIV, at least 18 years of age and were willing to share their personal stories with the researchers (Chen et al. 2012). Interviewing is a preferable method of collecting qualitative data because it enables a researcher to obtain first hand information from the participants thus minimizing inaccuracies (Benton & Cormack, 2010). After the interview, the data collected was then analyzed using ATLAS.ti software (Chen et al. 2012). The results of the analysis were the presented in form of a table, and the conclusion made. Generally, all the key aspects of research methodology, such as sampling of participants, collection of data, and analysis of data, are clearly explained and justified in this article. Conclusion Drawn This paper presents a comprehensive conclusion that sums up all the key areas of the research, especially the most useful and interesting aspects about the research. The conclusion is appropriately supported by the research results, and the implication of the research is clearly outlined. The paper also outlined the suggestion for future research, stating that the future study should focus on designing a culturally acceptable stress management intervention to these women in need. In addition, the conclusion captures some of the strengths and weaknesses in the paper. One of the strengths that are apparent in this paper is that its title is appropriately designed to accurately capture what the study seeks to explore. It also has a concise introduction, literature review, and research methodology that clearly outline the important aspects of a research. However, the only weakness in the paper is that the literature review does not provide balanced points of view. Nearly all the literatures cited support the hypothesis of the study. According to Valente (2008), a good research paper should present opposing viewpoints regarding the research hypothesis. Nonetheless, the conclusion is generally comprehensive as it sums up all the key areas of the study and offers suggestions and recommendations for further research. Impact of the Research Findings This article succinctly outlines the impact of the research findings on practice. It also presents areas of possible future research and some ways through which current research can be improved. The key impact of this study can be explained by the fact that the objective of the research was achieved. That is, the study was able to establish how sleep and energy levels are affected in women diagnosed with HIV. The success of this study will enable all the relevant parties, especially in the health, to understand the effect of HIV infection on the sleep and energy levels of the victims and thus come up with appropriate solutions or recommendations handling the problem. One of recommendations highlighted in this paper is introduction of more public education about safe sex and peer support for HIV positive women to be able to get back to the routine of daily living (Barroso et al. 2008). The other solution recommended in this article is to design that will decrease stress, enhance sleep quality and decrease fatigue. References: Barroso J, Pence BW, Salahuddin N, Harmon JL&Leserman J (2008). Physiological correlates of HIV-related fatigue. Clinical Nursing Research 17, 5–19. Benton, D. C. & Cormack, D. F. S. (2010). Reviewing and evaluating the literature. In D. F. S. 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