NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique
Walden University NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique-Step-By-Step Guide
This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique
Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique
The introduction for the Walden University NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.
How to Write the Body for NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique
After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.
Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique
After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.
How to Format the References List for NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique
The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.
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Sample Answer for NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique
The article Effects of Coping Skills Training in School-age Children with Type 1 Diabetes by Grey et al. sought to determine the efficacy of two interventions on the management of TID by school-going children. Using a stress adaptation model, the authors wanted to determine the physiological and psychosocial adaptation degree of the sample to the stress of living with type 1 diabetes. Under the hypothesis that coping strategy training influences people’s response, context, and adaptation, Grey et al. ( 2009) purposed to “determine the effect of group-based
CST for school-aged children with T1D and their parents compared to an attention-control
group receiving supplemental general diabetes education (GE) over a period of a year on
children’s metabolic control, QOL, depressive symptoms, coping, self-efficacy, and family
functioning at 12-month follow-up” (p. 4 ) using a randomized clinical trial. In order to accomplish this, the authors created a two group experimental design whose sample consisted of children between the ages of 8-12 and who had insulin resistance. They initially targeted a sample size of 100 children who would become subjected to coping skills training and group education as the intervention methods for the study. Using SAS 9.2 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC), Grey et al. ( 2009) analyzed the data collected on metabolic control, child quality of life (QOL), child depressive symptoms, coping, self-efficacy, and family function variables.
The results of the study revealed non-significant outcomes as they did not add any new concept to the existing literature on the subject. However, the authors noticed that both group education and coping skills training led to the improvement of the group over a period. Consequently, the participants demonstrated enhanced impact of diabetes, fewer depressive symptoms, better T1D self-efficacy, improved diabetes coping, and substantially reduced parental control. Thus, the authors proffered that the findings implied that the group-based strategy possessed a better intervention outcome for the sample in question. Having said that, the study also revealed that CST intervention did not produce the desired effect of enhanced metabolic control, family functioning, self-efficacy, coping, depressive symptoms and quality of life, in contrast to the study’s hypothesis. In conclusion, the study recommends future research to examine the efficacy of CST on subjects of racial, ethnic, and socio-economic diversity in addition to children of elevated HbA1c levels as well as those with multifarious family functioning and psychosocial adjustment.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Study
The researchers postulate that they employed the usage of a randomized trial approach for the study. During the study, the authors used trained research assistants to collect data at baseline, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after randomization. Thus, the researchers describe the data collection method in sufficient details as expected of a randomized trial study. Indeed, the design and sample of the study received considerable attention from the researchers. As evidenced from the article, minimization of bias occurred in the study since the research assistants became blinded to the group assignments. Pursuant to numerous studies on the significance of blindness in randomized control trail, the elimination of bias in a study makes it an important aspect of RCT and gives it the edge over other methodologies in research studies. In other words, the credibility of the study received a major boost because of the fact that the study design had some level of blindness.
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Moreover, the study design utilized in the present article allowed for the existence of a controlled group allocation for both the CST and GE samples. As a consequence, the study enhanced the similarity of baseline features since the participants of the study possessed similar baseline features such as similar ages (8-12 years), suffering from T1D and underwent insulin treatment for at least 6 months, as well as free of other significant health conditions. The existence of these commonalities in the study sample allowed the researchers to establish a basis for their statistical hypothesis. Therefore, the study design elected for this research enabled the research to
Moreover, the approach adopted by the researchers in writing the discussion has consistency with the characteristics of a good research article. Mack (2018) postulates that a discussion section offers readers specific guidance regarding the accomplishments of the study, its scientific significance, as well as the next course of action that researchers should undertake. This article started its discussion by revisiting the purpose of the study. Indeed, the authors continued by stating that the intention of the CST intervention that formed the foundation of the study involved offering a preventative intervention for children going to school who may have type 1 diabetes. In addition, the discussion section needs to address the limitations of the study with regards to numerous such as study design. In the article, the authors highlight several limitations that the study experienced. Key among these limitations include factors such small sample size and the absence of racial and economic diversity as the participants predominantly came from White, upper class children. Therefore, the study’s discussion demonstrates certain points of strengths that adhere to standard procedures for scientific and journal research articles.
However, the study as conducted by Grey et al. (2009) wanted to establish the role of CST in the management of type 1 diabetes in adolescent students. The authors shared important results regarding the application of CST vis-à-vis GE in the process. However, the authors admitted to having a small sample size in the range of 100 students initially. Due to various factors, the final number (82) of the participants reduced the sample size even further. Consequently, the small sample size negatively impacts the generalizability of the study results. Moreover, the component sample for the study did not demonstrate diversity across various spectrum.
The DNP project topic under consideration is “effectiveness of case management for patients with chronic diseases.” Some of the diseases in this case include conditions lasting more than one year and require continuous medical attention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2022). They include diabetes, cancer, and heart disease and significantly limit the patient’s ability to manage activities of daily living. The quantitative article that relates to the DNP topic is:
Davis, K. M., Eckert, M. C., Hutchinson, A., Harmon, J., Sharplin, G., Shakib, S., & Caughey, G. E. (2021). Effectiveness of nurse–led services for people with chronic disease in achieving an outcome of continuity of care at the primary-secondary healthcare interface: A quantitative systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 121, 103986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103986
Sample Answer 2 for NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique
A Summary of How the Article Relates to Your Potential DNP Project Topic
According to the article, there is evidence that nurse-led services can improve the continuity of care for people with chronic disease, especially at the primary-secondary healthcare interface. A study in the United Kingdom found that patients who saw the same nurse over time had better continuity of care and communication, and improved health outcomes. Another study found that nurses who provided more coordinated care had lower hospitalization rates and improved patient satisfaction. There are a number of factors that contribute to the effectiveness of nurse-led services for people with chronic disease. Firstly, nursing staff need to have access to comprehensive information about their patients’ medical histories in order to provide appropriate care. Secondly, there needs to be good communication between all members of the healthcare team.
The article relates to the DNP project, first, it identifies or determine the effectiveness of nurse-led services for individual with chronic diseases in achieving the outcome of continuity of care at both the primary and secondary healthcare interface. Secondly, the approaches and the objectives of this quantitative article align with the topic’s objectives. Finally, the article focuses on the effectiveness of case management for patients with chronic diseases, this provides elaborate and comprehensive information that can be applied in the DNP project.
The Search Terms and the filters Used
Some of the search terms applied in search of the article include: effectiveness of case management for patients, chronic diseases, effectiveness in the management of chronic diseases, patient managements, and the management of chronic disease. The methodological search filters were used to accurately determine the article, some of the methodological filters used include type of the article, quantitative, the study type, and the topic for research.
The Method Used in Reviewing Search Results
The process of reviewing search results is an important step in ensuring accuracy and completeness. When reviewing search results, it is important to consider various factors such as date, source, relevance, and quality. -Date: The date of the result is an important factor to consider when reviewing accuracy. A result that is outdated may no longer be accurate. For example, a search for “restaurants near me” may bring up different results if the search is conducted on a different day. -Source: The source of the result also affects its accuracy. A result from a credible source is more likely to be accurate than one from an unknown or untrustworthy source.
Reference
CDC. (2022). About chronic diseases. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/index.htm#:~:text=Chronic%20diseases%20are%20defined%20broadly,disability%20in%20the%20United%20States.
Sample Answer 3 for NURS 8201 Week 7 Article Critique
Over the years, research has played an important role in various sectors, healthcare included. In particular, research helps in improving patient outcomes by revealing new and effective strategies that can used to enhance and improve services offered to patients. In addition, research also helps unveil appropriate and relevant strategies that can be used to align workflow in the clinical environment and support the staff to perform to their optimum (Erickson & Pappas, 2020). The implication is that nurses need to understand the research process, as such an aspect can help integrate the research findings into evidence-based practice to enhance patient outcomes. One of the aspects that needs to be adequately understood by the nurses and even DNP students is an analysis of the research literature. Research literature contains valuable information that a researcher may like to use, critique, and appraise before deciding whether the findings are worthy of translation into practice. As such, the purpose of this assignment is to analyze a peer reviewed journal and develop a deeper understanding of the research process.
Overview of the Selected Study
This study focused on a quality improvement project or approach to improving medication reconciliation in the skilled nursing facility setting. The study was conducted as part of a major study known as the Multi-Center Medication Reconciliation Quality Improvement Study (Baughman et al.,2021). The research focused on enabling various sites to improve their medication reconciliation using a MARQUIS tool kit, which was an evidence-based guide specifically designed to enhance medication reconciliation. The research was carried out at a 112-bed US Department of Veterans Affairs skilled nursing facility. Various quality improvement methods were developed and used by the researchers. They aspects included healthcare failure mode, process mapping, stakeholder survey, and data benchmarking.
The study considered patients admitted to the long term care and transitional care units, with most of the patients admitted to the facility drawn from the local Veteran Affairs hospitals. In addition, a multi-care team composed of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians were all included as they offered care to these patients. The analysis of the results revealed important aspects. For example, baseline assessments showed that the medication reconciliation process was error-prone, which led to high rates of medication discrepancies. In addition, the provider process mapping and provider surveys also showed that the process used lacked standards and was extremely labor-intensive (Baughman et al.,2021). Various factors were also found to contribute to such observations, including exposing patients to multiple care transitions, electronic health record limitations, limited resources, and polypharmacy. The researchers found that it is important to use a methodological approach to identify and address the challenges and, use a validated and best possible medication history process, and use additional medication lists to help in accounting for multiple care transitions.
The Strengths of The Study
As part of an article analysis and critique, it is important to explore the strengths of a study; therefore, this section focuses on these strengths. One of the strengths lies in the design and data collection. The authors used comprehensive baseline assessments. For example, they used Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA), process mapping, stakeholder surveys, and data benchmarking. The use of these aspects is a demonstration of a well-designed approach that can help researchers understand the complexities associated with the medication reconciliation processes in a skilled nursing facility setting (Baughman et al.,2021). In addition, the comprehensive design also plays an important role in ensuring that adequate pictures of existing challenges and potential solutions or interventions which can be used for mitigation.
Another strength in the design is the use of validation of the best possible medication practice (BPMH). The validation helps confirm the appropriateness of the BPMH process within the skilled nursing facility context, which further helps in establishing the foundation for implementing evidence-based practices. Besides, the validation is important in ensuring that the intervention is reliable and relevance, which has further been highlighted in the discussion and result sections.
The other strength of this study is that it is based on a data-driven approach as reflected in data collection, statistical analysis, and results. The researchers applied quantitative measures and data benchmarking to assess unintentional medication discrepancies, which is a reflection of a rigorous data-driven approach (Mohajan et al.,2020). The approach is further visible in the statistical analysis and results sections, where the researchers have used objective measures to help quantify the extent of the medication discrepancies. The implication is that by ensuring that the study relies on data, the finding’s generalizability and credibility are enhanced.
The Weaknesses of the Study
It is evident in the previous section that this study has various advantages. However, there are also various weaknesses that may need improvement if a similar study were to be performed. One of the identified weaknesses is the potentially limited generalizability of the study findings. From the methodology section, the researcher reports that this study was conducted at a single 112-bed US Department of Veterans Affairs skilled nursing facility. Therefore, the limited scope of the study site raises questions regarding the generalizability of the findings obtained to other skill nursing facility settings, which could have different organizational structures, staffing levels, and patient populations. The implication is that such a phenomenon weakens the external validity of results, which limits the wider applications of the interventions used in this study (Degtiar & Rose, 2023).
There is also a potential bias in sampling and data collection. The researchers report that the baseline surveys solely relied on the self-reported data from the Skilled nursing facility providers, which introduces a potential response bias (Braun et al.,2021). It is possible that the providers might have been inclined to present a socially desirable or more favorable view of what they do as their usual practice. Such a phenomenon would lead to an underestimation or overestimation of the medication reconciliation challenges, which introduces bias in data collection. The introduction of the data collection bias, in turn, negatively impacts the survey results’ reliability, hence potentially influencing the accuracy of the findings.
This study also has weaknesses in terms of statistical analysis and results. For example, the study did not use a comparative analysis to determine the differences between observations before the intervention period and after the intervention period or pre-intervention and post-intervention phases. Even though the analysis comprehensively identified and highlighted the medication reconciliation challenges when performing the baseline assessments, the researchers ignored any comparative analysis, which could have helped in identifying any changes. Such a lack of comparative analysis limits the possibility of quantifying the impact of the interventions that have been implemented (Dolev-Amit et al.,2021). As such, introducing a comparison would have strengthened the study by showing how impactful the interventions were over time.
Medication errors negatively impact patients. Therefore, the best studies to help solve the problem should at least involve them (Alqenae et al.,2020). However, this study did not consider patient perspectives as part of the study, which significantly denies its strengths related to design. While the study mainly focused on the healthcare providers, it ignored exploring the patient’s perspectives and experiences. Medication reconciliation entails various aspects, such as patient understanding and adherence; as such, their perspectives should have been included. Such perspectives and insights could have offered important information on the implications of medication discrepancies and errors in the care transitions. It is evident that this study has various weaknesses. As such, future research needs to address such weaknesses to improve the methodological robustness.
Proposed Changes to Improve the Quality Of the Study
Part of a comprehensive analysis and critique of research articles requires a proposal for changes that can be made to improve the quality of the study. Such proposed changes can significantly improve the methodological robustness of such studies. One of the identified weaknesses was the potential limited generalizability. Therefore, it is important to explore potential steps that can help eliminate this weakness. Generalizability can be enhanced in similar future studies by expanding the study so that it has multiple skilled nursing facilities with diverse characteristics (Lee et al.,2023). This can be achieved by collaborating with various healthcare systems to help obtain a wider range of populations, care practices, and organizational structures. Indeed, patterning with other skilled nursing facilities located in different regions would ensure the different healthcare delivery models and demographics are represented. In addition, the collaborative approach would help boost the findings’ external validity.
Another weakness identified was on the provider surveys, which could have introduced bias. It is also important to propose a solution for this weakness. One of the solutions is the implementation of objective measures for the provider surveys. As such, it will be important to integrate objective observations and measures with the already existing self-reported data. Such an approach can substantially improve the reliability of the survey results. The implication is that the results will be able to offer a more accurate representation of medication reconciliation practices. This aspect can be achieved by introducing an observational component where the researchers can assess the process of medication reconciliation independently, with a major focus on validating and complementing the self-reported data. The approach would help in enhancing the credibility of the findings.
The other weakness was identified as a lack of a pre- and post-intervention comparative analysis. Therefore, it is important to address this shortcoming; a more robust design that includes a pre-and post-intervention phase should be implemented (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2021). Such an approach would ensure that the researchers can carry out a quantitative assessment of the impact of the implemented interventions or strategies on the medication reconciliation process. Again, this proposed change can be accomplished by establishing a baseline measure of the discrepancies in medication reconciliation, implementing the proposed intervention, and then carrying out a reassessment of medication discrepancies after the implementation of the intervention. Such a comparative analysis can reveal valuable information and insights into how effective the interventions are.
Implications of the Study For Nursing Practice
One of the major reasons why researchers carry out nursing research is to impact nursing practice and patient care positively. Therefore, the findings obtained in various research studies or efforts can be translated into practice to help impact patient practice and patient outcomes positively. Therefore, one area of potential implications would be an improvement in medication reconciliation to help improve patient outcomes related to medication errors, especially those errors that affect veterans. As such, this section focuses on the implications of the study for nursing practice.
One of the implications is that it can lead to enhanced awareness of challenges that face medication reconciliation awareness and knowledge. Through the findings in the study, nurses working in various skilled nursing facilities can benefit from having enhanced awareness regarding the challenges that come with medication reconciliation. Some of them would include the effects of care transitions on medication lists, possible sources of discrepancies, and understanding how complex the process is. Nurses can, therefore, apply such awareness and knowledge to advocate for a better process, more resources, and improved communication that can help improve medication reconciliation (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2021). Besides, the nurses can also educate the caregivers and patients on why it is important to provide accurate and complete medication information during care transitions.
Another implication is that the study can help trigger patient-centered medication reconciliation. It was evident from the study that there is a limited exploration of the patient’s perspectives regarding the medication reconciliation process. As such, it should be recognized that the patients should actively be involved in the reconciliation process to enhance success. Nurses can, therefore, involve patients when discussing matters to do with their medication during the care transitions (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2021). For instance, they can educate patients about why they need to adhere to the medication regimen and treatment plans, offer the patient succinct discharge instructions, and explore and uphold open communication if there are any cases of making medication regimen changes.
Conclusion
This write-up has focused on an analysis of a peer-reviewed journal focusing on reducing medication errors through strategies such as medication reconciliation. The study has various strengths and weaknesses, which have all been explored in this analysis. In addition, this study has various implications for nursing practice, such as the possibility of triggering a patient-centered medication reconciliation to improve patient outcomes.
References
Alqenae, F. A., Steinke, D., & Keers, R. N. (2020). Prevalence and nature of medication errors and medication-related harm following discharge from hospital to community settings: a systematic review. Drug Safety, 43, 517-537. Doi: 10.1007/s40264-020-00918-3
Baughman, A. W., Triantafylidis, L. K., O’Neil, N., Norstrom, J., Okpara, K., Ruopp, M. D., … & Simon, S. R. (2021). Improving medication reconciliation with comprehensive evaluation at a veterans affairs skilled nursing facility. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 47(10), 646–653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2021.06.001
Braun, V., Clarke, V., Boulton, E., Davey, L., & McEvoy, C. (2021). The online survey as a qualitative research tool. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 24(6), 641–654. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2020.1805550
Degtiar, I., & Rose, S. (2023). A review of generalizability and transportability. Annual Review of Statistics and Its Application, 10, 501-524. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-statistics-042522-103837
Dolev-Amit, T., Rubin, A., & Zilcha-Mano, S. (2021). Is awareness of strengths intervention sufficient to cultivate wellbeing and other positive outcomes?. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22, 645-666.
Erickson, J. I., & Pappas, S. (2020). The value of nursing research. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 50(5), 243-244. Doi: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000876
Lee, D., Yang, S., Dong, L., Wang, X., Zeng, D., & Cai, J. (2023). Improving trial generalizability using observational studies. Biometrics, 79(2), 1213-1225. https://doi.org/10.1111/biom.13609
LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2021). Nursing research E-book: methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Mohajan, H. K. (2020). Quantitative research: A successful investigation in natural and social sciences. Journal of Economic Development, Environment, and People, 9(4), 50-79. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=939590