MN504- Quantitative Critique

Full and Complete Reference for the Article:

Medina-Mirapeix, F., Jimeno-Serrano, F., Escolar-Reina, P., & Del Bano-Aledo, M. (2013). Is patient satisfaction and perceived service quality with musculoskeletal rehabilitation determined by patient experiences?, Clinical Rehabilitation, 27(6): 555-564.

Problem:

The study was conducted to research on the problem of ensuring that patients are provided with quality care. Most of the patient’s experiences in health care vary depending on the services they get. This problem is essential for nursing to research because, it allows the nurses to understand whether the services they provide meet the level of satisfaction of their employees and helps them to adjust in their healthcare provision.

Study Purpose

The purpose of the study is to assess the relationship between experiences of patients and two overall evaluations; service quality and satisfaction among the outpatients in the rehabilitation settings.

Research Question

The main research question is to find out the relationship between service satisfaction and service quality evaluations among the outpatient patients in rehabilitation care.

Hypothesis/hypotheses

The implied hypothesis of the study is that there are relationships between the patient experiences with the satisfaction and quality of services provided.

Study Variables

Every study must have variables that the researcher uses to meet his or her goals. There are different variables that are used in different studies. The most used variables are independent and dependent variables. In this study, the major variables are patient experiences, satisfaction, and service quality.

INDEPENDENT

Independent variables are variables that the researcher has control over and the variable can be manipulated (Anonymous, 2013). The independent variable in the study is patient experience. This is because, it is the variable that can be controlled or manipulated through improved services or bad services. It is carried out through surveys and questionnaires.

DEPENDENT

A dependent variable on the other hand, is the variable that the researcher measures and is the variable that is affected during an experiment (Dodge, 2003). It therefore responds to the independent variables. Dependent variables in this study include satisfaction and perceived service quality. In the study, these variables were measured through self-reported experiences.

Conceptual Model/Theoretical FRAMEWORK –

Even though the study has a small literature review part, the framework is implicitly expressed. This is because the researchers have not provided their framework for readers to go through. The framework is based on scientific theory, as any researcher in the field is able to understand it and even provide empirical support. The framework provides an overview about the concepts of interests. The concepts are explained and substantiated from the previous studies done. The framework is also related to the body of knowledge in nursing because it aims to find out whether the quality of service provided to the patients is of high quality to satisfy them.

Review of the Related Literature

The study is relevant with the previous studies and theories that have been carried out. A good number of the references are important. Out of the reference list provided, eight of them were published in the last ten years while others in the last 15 years. The number of sources within the last five years are three. Most of the information about the research problem is not well documented because of limited studies. Therefore, this information and knowledge is not given emphasis by nurses and the patients. The gap in the literature is insufficient information to ensure that the background of the study is well understood.

Study METHODOLOGY

The quantitative methodology of the study was survey study. A survey is a data collection method using individual questions or data that is then statistically analyzed (Ornstein, 1998). Survey targets a given population and intends to find out certain attributes about it. The choice of this methodology was appropriate for the study because it aimed at gathering data from the field.

Sample and Setting

Inclusion sample criteria are those characteristics of attributes that prospective subjects need to have them to be considered and included in the study. While exclusion criteria are characteristics that disqualify prospective subjects from being included in the study (Yale University, 2013).

Inclusive criteria included selecting participants aged 18 years that were receiving physical therapy and medical rehabilitation services. Exclusion criteria included inability to understand simple instructions, sever visual defects, and those with bilateral injuries on their upper extremities.

The sample size for the study was 465 outpatients. Power analysis was not conducted in determining the sample size. The demographic involved outpatients aged over 18 years and undergoing medical rehabilitation services. Those that were excluded from the sample were 51 respondents. Consent was received form the respondents and was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the University of Murcia, Spain.

Identification and Control of Extraneous Variables

Extraneous variables are undesirable variables that influence the relationship between major variables that the researcher is examining. They influence the outcome of an experiment even though they are not the focus variable of interest. Example of this variable in the study is socio-demographic characteristics because they are also compared to the patient’s experiences.

Study Instruments/Tools

The main research instrument used in the study was a questionnaire booklet that contained questions.

The questionnaire was obtained from the various hospitals on request to help capture the patients overall evaluations and experiences.

The data was measured using self-reports. The level of measurement used was nominal. This measurement entails using names to categorize things based on the observation (Anonymous, 2013). The instrument represents this because various attributes are categorized in numbers and percentages (Hohmann, 2005). Intervals were also used as education levels were dichotomized as below high school, high school and above. Age was also coded in 3 groups as 30 and below, 31-45, and 45 and above.

This instrument is reliable because it provides the researcher with the first hand information about the patients. The method has also been used in previous studies and proved successful. Therefore, the instrument is valid as it is approved

Data Collection Methods

Data was collected through administering of questionnaires. The procedure was appropriately, as enough information about the patients was gathered. Detail how the data were collected. A right of subjects was protected by ensuring that their identities were not revealed to third parties without their approval.

Statistical Analysis Procedures

The statistical procedure used was SPSS (Statistical package for the social sciences) version 15.0. This is computer software that helped to analyze data after keying it into the system.

t-test of significance was also used to compare the differences between the groups with low and high overall evaluations for the problem scores

Statistical Procedure

Statistical Findings

Significance (provide a narrative description of the significance as well as the actual statistical values

SPSS

The findings indicates that there are noticeable differences

Mean respondent satisfaction was 8.9 (SD=1.2) 401 (87.9%) respondent described their perception of service quality as high

7(1.5%) described their perception of service quality as fair.

T-test

Differences were exhibited

It helps to compare the high and low values scores. The beta was set at 0.05

There was high satisfaction among older patients compared to younger p=0.034

The study findings indicate a relationship between patient perceived service quality, satisfaction and patient’s experiences in the rehabilitation care. Furthermore, it was revealed that many of the patients could not express low evaluation even if the had negative experiences.

Strengths /Limitations

The merit of the study is that it was based carried out with a professional who employed good data collection method. The study is also credible because of substituting its arguments on the previous studies.

The limitation of the study was that there was lack of information about some specific aspects concerning rehabilitation of the sample studied. The study was also was also open to bias which affected the findings.

The findings were generalized on the premise of the research questions. The relevance of the data was achieved because of the variety of questions that were asked.

These results are applicable in nursing especially when it comes to evaluation of the quality of services that nurses provide. It can be used to appraise nurses based on the responses of the patients.

Suggestion for further studies identified was in determining of the determinants of satisfaction and quality of services in rehabilitation settings. Extensive studies should be conducted on the differential role of patient’s experiences on satisfaction and quality of services.

Description of the study is sufficiently clear and can be replicated. It is credible and has been approved and even peer-reviewed. The author is also a professional in the area

REFLECTION

Reading and critiquing quantitative study has enabled me to understand the various aspects in quantitative study. I have learned a lot about how these studies are done. Some of the aspects that I have learned include aspects of the structure, hypothesis, methodology, and the various statistical analysis methods used in the study.

Consequently, I believe that through this understanding and using quantitative research findings will impact positively to my practice of nursing. I have understood how to carry out a study and I will use this knowledge to carry out my studies to help enhance my practice. The study has also helped to understand the need to always provide quality services to the patients (Price, 2013). This is the happiness and the satisfaction of the clients.

Additional two pages

Tomlinson, P., Peden-McAlpine, C., & Sherman, S. (2012). A family systems nursing intervention model for paediatric health crisis, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(3):705-714.

The problem that the authors aim to address in this study is that of lack of pre-requisite skills among nurses to provide family intervention with enough support in the times of crisis. Very few intervention studies have been conducted focusing on the provider family relationships with the aim of reducing the stress reported. Therefore, this study is essential to address these problems.

The purpose of this study was to develop family systems nursing interventions that can be used in the clinics to help in resolving health crisis. Various clinical problems that manifest in the health setting are caused by insufficient knowledge of some of the nurses which is the issue that requires address. The study is guided by dependent as well as independent variable. These variables include the models of pediatric health crisis and independent variables, which are the nursing interventions.

The study is guided by implied questions and hypothesis. The hypothesis that guides the study is that there is need for enhancement of relationships among the caregivers to help in enhancing coping strategies. Well-established relationships are very essential in enhancing the family interventions. The study has background information that provides overview of the situation.

Literature review is also provided as part of this introductory party. This section enhances the readers understanding about the study area. It provides information that helps to enhance the understanding of the readers. The methodology section is also clear and well explained. The researchers used literature from various research databases that ranged from 1980 to 2009. The researchers continuously searched their information using Medline and CINAHL databases. These databases provided adequate information that helps them to incorporate various studies functions making the study credible and reliable. The data was analyzed through various processes and steps. The study has also a discussion and a conclusion section. The study findings indicate that family interventions are essential in increasing the family stress and increasing family comfort when there is presence of nurses. Nurse’s awareness also increases about family chaos and suffering in various critical situations. Furthermore, the intervention assisted nurses to refrain their preconceptions of family experiences. The study had also some implications that included helping nurse deliver a more family oriented approach to provide care in any clinical setting.

This study is therefore essential in increasing the scope of knowledge and skills to nurses. It has provided enough information about the need for nurses to adopt to family intervention strategies in helping reducing stress and enhancing the quality of healthcare services provided. The informtaion is well organized and clear. It is well supported by other sources making the study more reliable and credible. The authors are also experienced in the area. One of the authors Patricia Tomlinson is a registered nurse as well as a lecture, which shows that she is experienced, and understand the functioning and the working of the nurses.

The study is also very essential to me as a nursing practitioner. I have gained in-depth knowledge and skills in the area, as I can be able to provide better quality services to the families. I have also learned how to promote more family control to ensure that families live well without any stress. I can also use this skills and knowledge to impact on the life of others to ensure that the society as a whole is able to manage their health crisis amicably to ensure that they live stress free lives.

References

Anonymous. (2013). Independent variable. Retrieved from: http://www.ncsu.edu/labwrite/po/independentvar.htm

Anonymous. (2013). Quantitative methodologies. Retrieved from: http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/DeafStudiesTeaching/dissert/Quantitative%20Methodologie s.htm

Dodge, Y. (2003). The Oxford Dictionary of Statistical Terms, OUP

Hohmann, U. (2005). Quantitative methods in education research. Retrieved from: http://www.edu.plymouth.ac.uk/resined/Quantitative/quanthme.htm

Price, B. (2013). Understanding nursing ‘nous’ in the context of service improvements. (cover story), Nursing Management – UK, 20(4): 28-35.

Ornstein, M. (1998). Survey Research, Current Sociology 46(4): 3-136.

Yale University. (2013). General guide Protocol design- Inclusion and exclusion criteria. Retrieved from: http://learn.yale.edu/hsp/module_5/3a_guidance.asp

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