HLT 362 Week 1 Article Analysis 1 Paper
The interpretation of research in health care is essential to decision making. By understanding research, health care providers can identify risk factors, trends, outcomes for treatment, health care costs and best practices. To be effective in evaluating and interpreting research, the reader must first understand how to interpret the findings. You will practice article analysis in Topics 2, 3, and 5.
For this assignment:
Search the GCU Library and find three different health care articles that use quantitative research. Do not use articles that appear in the Topic Materials or textbook. Complete an article analysis for each using the “Article Analysis 1” template.
Refer to the “Patient Preference and Satisfaction in Hospital-at-Home and Usual Hospital Care for COPD Exacerbations: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial,” in conjunction with the “Article Analysis Example 1,” for an example of an article analysis. While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
HLT 362 Article Analysis Example
Research improves healthcare practice by generating results that can be translated into health policies. Research refers to the systematic collection of data that produces new knowledge, validates existing knowledge, and provides solutions to current problems (Cherry & Jacob, 2019). Nurses and healthcare practitioners have endeavored to use research findings to effectively address patient needs and improve patient care since time immemorial. This endeavor has given rise to EBP (evidence-based practice).
EBP refers to the use of the best available scientific evidence, incorporation of patients’ preferences and values, and integration of clinical experience into practice to promote effective decision-making and efficient, high-quality patient care (Li et al., 2019). EBP enhances patient outcomes and promotes healthcare safety. EBP begins by cultivating a spirit of inquiry, asking a clinical question, and collecting and evaluating the most relevant evidence. Afterward, one integrates evidence with clinical experience and patient preferences, evaluates outcomes, and disseminates EBP utilization results to promote change.
According to LoBiondo-Wood and Haber (2018), critiquing an article’s research findings is essential for nurses to determine the results’ applicability and usability. A research critique analyzes a study’s strengths, weaknesses, and quality, but not disparagement or criticism of a researcher’s ability. This paper analyzes the “Study 3- Patients’ and partners’ health-related quality of life before and after four months after coronary artery bypass surgery” research article. The paper discusses the various elements of research critique, including style, problem statement, research design, literature review, data analysis, discussion of findings, conclusions, and how the article contributes to EBP.
Evaluation of the Credibility of the Professional Citation
Elements of Style
The researchers are renowned lecturers in the School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health at the University of Stirling, Scotland. They have the prerequisite knowledge and expertise to conduct the research study, as evidenced by their academic qualifications. Additionally, the research article provides sufficient detail to enable a critical appraisal. The research report uses understandable terms, is concise and well-organized, and is grammatically correct. The abstract provides a clear summary of the research article, including the study background, methodology, sample size, research problem, results, and conclusion. The research title is accurate and precise, reflecting the topic being studied.
Statement of The Phenomenon of Interest
The research title is clear and accurate. It also reflects and relates to the research question. The researchers have also clearly stated the phenomenon of interest to readers. The research topic is best studied using a qualitative approach. However, the researchers have not indicated the philosophical underpinnings and justification for using the qualitative approach.
Purpose
The aims and objectives of this prospective, observational study were to increase the understanding of partners’ and patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) before and after CABG and to explore how partners’ and patients’ socio-demographics (preoperatively) predict their HRQoL four months after CABG. The article also projects the potential use of the research findings to understand better how partners’ health-related quality of life changes from the preoperative to the postoperative period, enabling healthcare workers to adopt early mitigatory approaches to enhance partners’ quality of life following CABG.
Research studies have demonstrated that support from a partner or spouse reduces patient mortality and improves the patient’s psychosocial recovery. Surprisingly, little is known about the topic of interest. This makes this research study very timely and appropriate.
Literature Review
The background of the study demonstrates that the researchers have conducted an adequate review of the literature. The literature review adequately summarizes what is known regarding the topic of interest. The literature review provided a reasonable basis for why this study should be conducted, since little is known about how partners’ HRQoL (health-related quality of life) might change from the preoperative to the postoperative period in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. This is essential as the partners play a vital role in supporting patients during the perioperative period. Against the identified background, the study seeks to gain deeper insight into partners’ and patients’ health-related quality of life before and after four months following CABG (coronary artery bypass grafting) surgery. However, the literature review is not entirely detailed.
Theoretical Framework and Method
The research article does not provide a theoretical framework for this study. However, it outlines the methods used to collect data. Partners and patients were seen in the outpatient clinics prior to and at home following four months after surgery (CABG). The researchers also provide a clear description of the criteria used to include and exclude study participants. This is vital as it enables the replication of the study in a different setting, ensuring the reliability and validity of the findings.
The researchers used the Quality of Life of Cardiac Spouses’ Questionnaire, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, and the Short-Form 12 Health Survey tools. The researchers also assessed the socio-demographics. They also utilized different numerical rating scales to assess the perceived symptom severity. Before data collection, the researchers piloted the tools on 10 patients to assess their validity and test the practicability of the study.
Sampling
The researchers do not outline the sampling method used to derive the sample. However, they have included the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The sample used (84 dyads) was a sufficient number for data saturation and subsequent analysis. The individuals selected were suitable for the study.
Ethical Considerations
The researchers sought ethical approval from the University of Stirling and the local National Health Service Research and Ethics Committee.
Data Collection and Analysis
Data were collected using the earlier-mentioned methods appropriate for this study. Data analysis methods for the three research questions were appropriate for each, providing a comprehensive understanding of the information gathered. Regarding the rigor of the study, appropriate and sufficient methods were used. These enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of the data.
Results
The results have been presented in an understandable, systematic, and appropriate way. The interpretation of the results is also appropriate. Furthermore, the discussion is comprehensive and adequately addresses the study’s purpose. The researchers also outline the study’s limitations and implications for the results. The conclusion also provides practical recommendations to enhance the health-related quality of life following CABG.
Contribution to Evidence-Based Practice
Findings from the research contribute to EBP. Partners should be involved in patients’ preoperative assessment. Additionally, keen attention should be accorded to the patient’s mental health preoperatively, as it affects their social, physical, and emotional functioning and health postoperatively following CABG.
References
Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2019). Contemporary Nursing: Issues, Trends, & Management (8th ed.). Mosby.
LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2018). Nursing research: Methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice. (9th ed) St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Thomson, P., Niven, C. A., Peck, D. F., & Eaves, J. (2013). Patients’ and partners’ health-related quality of life before and 4 months after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. BMC Nursing, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6955-12-16
HLT 362 Topic 2 DQ 1
- Singh, K., & Sharma. N. (2020). Clinical and laboratory parameters correlation with complications and mortality in community acquired pneumonia in a tertiary care hospital. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research, 14(4), 26–30.
Singh and Sharma (2020) conducted a prospective study to find out the clinical and biochemical profile of patients admitted with the diagnosis of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and to see the association with various complications and outcomes. This study analyzed the various clinical and laboratory parameters and correlated with different outcomes in patients with CAP.
This was a prospective, observational hospital study held at the emergency and medicine ward at a tertiary hospital in India, between 2018 to 2019. The inclusion criteria for the study was patients over the age of 18 years with clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of pneumonia which was confirmed with radiological evidence of infiltrates consistent with consolidation. The sample size was 130 and the age of the participants ranged from 18-90 years.
The researchers found that early diagnosis, prompt severity scoring, early sepsis management and monitoring could reduce mortality in CAP (Singh & Sharma, 2020). Managing comorbid conditions such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and others need to be managed precisely to prevent adverse outcomes due to CAP.
The researchers calculated the sample size on the basis of 95% confidence level and 10% anticipated difference between detection rate of pneumonia, which is an appropriate way to calculate the sample size (Rayan, 2018). Though the sample size calculated was 116, a total of 130 were included to adjust dropouts during the study (Singh & Sharma, 2020).
- Rayan, C. (2018). Population and sampling distribution. Grand Canyon University. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/hlt362v/applied-statistics-for-health-care/v1.1/#/chapter/2
HLT-362 Topic 3: Clinical Inquiry and Hypothesis Testing
Search the GCU Library and find two new health care articles that use quantitative research. Do not use articles from a previous assignment, or articles that appear in the topic Resources or textbook.
Complete an article analysis for each using the “Article Analysis: Part 2” template.
Refer to the “Patient Preference and Satisfaction in Hospital-at-Home and Usual Hospital Care for COPD Exacerbations: Results of a Randomised Controlled Trial,” in conjunction with the “Article Analysis Example 2,” for an example of an article analysis.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.


