RESE
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Quantitative Research Question, Methodologies and Data Collection Tool
Problem statement
Pressure ulcers are more common than cancer and cardiovascular disease in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the prevalence of pressure ulcers in acute care institutions ranges from 0.03 to 38 percent, while the prevalence in long-term care facilities ranges from 3.5 to 69 percent. The cost of treating a single pressure ulcer in an individual patient ranges from $20,900 to $117,700. Pressure ulcers have resulted in more than 17,000 lawsuits a year because they cost $43,180 each hospital stay, according to Medicare in 2007.
In addition, the victims of pressure ulcers are rendered unable to work, resulting in a loss of revenue and productivity. Even though studies show that elderly people are at a higher risk of developing pressure ulcers due to their nutritional status, immobility, disease condition, injury, and deformity, the teamwork of a nurse, doctor, nurses aid, dietician, and physical and occupational therapist can help prevent these ulcers in nursing homes and hospitals. Evidence-based practices for treating pressure ulcers are still missing in hospitals. This is why evidence-based pressure ulcer prevention should be a top priority in patient care, not just to enhance outcomes and satisfaction, but also to avoid financial losses due to treatment expenses and lawsuits.
Purpose statement There are 2.5 million patients in the United States each year infected with pressure ulcers, which is a common and depressing nursing indicator (Ting, 2021). Patients and medical staff alike have the burden of dealing with the negative consequences of bed sores. Bedsores at the institution can be lessened by several solutions that have been put forth. The repositioning of patients after two hours is one of the solutions that will be discussed in this article. Pressure on the skin or tissue that has been compressed for a long period of time, according to several studies, is the ultimate intervention for bedsores (Minteer, 2015). Evidence demonstrates that routinely altering a patient's position can be the most cost-effective and efficient method of preventing bedsores. It's shocking that our healthcare institutions' nursing staff doesn't follow this basic standard of care, given that it's the most straightforward. In this vein, the PICOT recommends that a patient with pressure ulcers undergo two-hourly repositioning. Hospitals that practice relocating patients have shown beneficial results, and this approach has been supported by a variety of research.
Quantitative Research Questions and Methods for Pressure Ulcers
Quantitative research encompasses a wide variety of methods for methodically researching social issues through the utilization of numerical or statistical data. These methods can be found in a wide number of academic disciplines.
Quantitative research is founded on the idea that phenomena may be quantified and depends on data analysis to reveal patterns and relationships that validate the accuracy of the measurements. This type of study was popularized in the 1960s and 1970s. In its most basic form, quantitative research is the process of compiling numerical data to provide an explanation for a particular occurrence by the formulation of specific questions that can be answered through the application of quantitative research methodology. (Bloomfield, 2019)
Quantitative Research Question and Hypothesis
Would the placement of pressurized air mats on the beds of immobile patients reduce or eliminate the risk of the patient developing a hospital acquired ailment related to pressure ulcers while they are admitted to the hospital? Patients who are immobile and at risk of getting pressure ulcers in the hospital may benefit from the use of compressed air mats, which can help prevent and reduce the risk of developing pressure ulcers.
Quantitative Methodologies and Data Collection Tools
To collect information regarding the frequency of pressure ulcers, one method of research known as causal comparative research can be utilized to make a comparison between patients who have pressurized air mats and those who do not. The selection of a subset of a population from which samples are to be collected can be accomplished through the use of the causal comparative method in conjunction with the data gathering approach known as probability sampling. This data can be used to do an analysis on any pressure ulcers that manifested themselves either within six months of making use of the pressurized air mats or within six months of ceasing to do so. The information would disclose whether or not the mats are preventing or decreasing the amount of PU incidents that have been recorded.
Analyzing Quantitative Data
Once the data have been obtained, it is essential to accurately analyze them to report the results of the comparison between the projected and actual outcomes. Several different approaches to data analysis will be utilized in order to investigate the problem as well as the hospital's reaction to it. It's possible to identify strengths and weaknesses in the quality of care delivered by employing the acronym SWOT analysis, which stands for Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities for Improvement/Threats (SWOT). What are the opportunities, threats, strengths, and weaknesses? In order to reveal any patterns or trends in the amount of PUs that have been reported as a consequence of human error, inferior product quality, and so on, cross tabulation will be used. Secondary quantitative research methodologies will be used when comparing the outcomes obtained before and after the pressurized air mat was implemented (Serova, 2019). It could be useful to conduct a poll among the nursing staff to find out what they think about the possibility of employing compressed air mats as a preventative strategy against pressure ulcers.
With the use of all of this information, we will be able to determine how the risk of developing pressure ulcers and how they might be avoided in hospitals (Nardi, 2018).
Importance of methodologically relevant data collection
Methodology used in the study and analytical model play a critical role in determining how the data obtained is used and what answers it may provide. Making well-informed judgments, ensuring quality control, and maintaining the integrity of research all depend on having accurate data. Researchers must define data categories, data sources, and data collection methods before they can begin collecting data. The procedure of gathering data is a critical one in any study. The sort of data one intends to collect, whether qualitative or quantitative, and how one intends to gather it, will influence the tool one chooses to gather the data.
Conclusion
The approach that is taken to collect data plays a vital role in determining the type of explanation or solution that is developed. It is absolutely necessary to have a clearly outlined plan for collecting data, in addition to a quantitative question, a hypothesis regarding the most likely conclusion, a timeline for when data will be collected, and methods for analyzing the results. The findings of this study will be used to assess whether or not there is a need for changes to be made about the level of care provided, policies and procedures, or the education of employees. As more data is collected, a more accurate picture of the problems and their potential solutions emerges. The purpose of the investigation that is now being carried out is to look into what caused this to occur. Even while pressure ulcers can be avoided in the vast majority of situations, one should not assume that this is always the case. Patients who have ulcers like this one may also have a comorbid condition involving a chronic illness. Patients with ulcers should be encouraged to examine the sources of their symptoms once they have received a diagnosis of ulcers. Patients who are battling many conditions at the same time should get their ulcers treated.
References
Bloomfield, J., & Fisher, M. J. (2019). Quantitative research design. Journal of the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses Association, 22(2), 27-30.
Nardi, P. M. (2018). Doing survey research: A guide to quantitative methods. Routledge.
Serova, E. G., Vorobyev, P. F., & Fainstein, E. M. (2019). Quantitative SWOT analysis and its application to strategic management: The case of chain restaurant business.
Stone, A. (2020). Preventing pressure injuries in nursing home residents using a low-profile alternating pressure overlay: a point-of-care trial. Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 33(10), 533-539.
Ting, J. J., & Garnett, A. (2021). E-Health Decision Support Technologies in the Prevention and Management of Pressure Ulcers: A Systematic Review. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 39(12), 955-973.
Minteer, D. M., Simon, P., Taylor, D. P., Jia, W., Li, Y., Sun, M., & Rubin, J. P. (2020). Pressure ulcer monitoring platform—a prospective, human subject clinical study to validate patient repositioning monitoring device to prevent pressure ulcers. Advances in wound care, 9(1), 28-33.