Research Critiques and PICOT Statement Final Draft

5

Quantitative Research Critique and Ethical Consideration

Student's Name

Institution

Course

Instructor's Name

Date

Quantitative Research Critique and Ethical Consideration

Hernandez et al. (2019) and Parker et al. (2017) undertook investigative studies to determine the causes of rampant UTIs among catheterized patients and the interventions that can effectively contain the condition. The purpose of the studies is to compile evidence that will be applied in the nursing practice to answer the PICOT question: In catheterized patients, can decreasing patient-nurse ratios compared to making no changes help reduce UTIs in a period of two months? The studies are significant to the nursing practice because they will highlight an intervention that will reduce UTIs among catheterized patients, improving the quality of care patients receive.

Background of the Study

The article Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention and nurses' checklist documentation of their indwelling catheter management practices is a study to determine the techniques nurses use while handling catheterized patients to assess the actions that can help in reducing incidences of catheterization (Hernandez et al., 2019). The investigative research showed that lowering the number of patients that the nurses handled was a significant aspect in reducing UTI incidences because it improved the standards of care that patients receive. The article Avoiding inappropriate urinary catheter use and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI): a pre-post control intervention study highlights practices that lead to UTIs, such as ineffective use of catheters, or misusing them, which increases the possibilities of catheterized patients getting infected. According to the article, the authors carried out investigative research to determine the best intervention that can adequately minimize UTIs among catheterized patients (Parker et al., 2017). The study showed that reducing the number of patients that nurses have to handle is one of the effective strategies that can effectively lower incidences of UTIs in the healthcare setting.

Article Supporting of Nursing Practice

The article documented by Hernandez et al. (2019) supports the nursing practice by providing information that can be used to answer the PICOT question explored in the investigative process. It contains evidence that proves that reducing the number of patients that each nurse is required to care for reduces UTIs among the hospitalized patients. According to the article, the improved standards of care when the patient-to-nurse ratios are reduced emanate from a reduction in the professionals' workload, hence increasing the attention they give to each patient. Similarly, Parker et al. (2017) supported the nursing practice by providing content that confirmed that increasing the nursing staffing ratios is a practical approach that aids in reducing cases of UTIs in the healthcare setting. The technique reduces burnouts among the nurses and improves the quality of care they disseminate in a clinical setting.

Method of Study

Hernandez et al. (2019) investigated the effectiveness of different strategies in preventing UTIs in catheterized patients. The authors used mixed methods during the investigative process, including interviews, observation, and questionnaires to gather information from the participants. The study incorporated a total of fifty nurses working in acute and surgical units in a healthcare organization. On the other hand, Parker et al. (2017) used a pre-test post-test investigative design to analyze the efficacy of increasing nursing staffing levels as a strategy for reducing the incidences of UTIs in the healthcare setting.

Result of the Studies

The result of the study undertaken by Hernandez et al. (2019) revealed that over 40% of the nurses managed patients effectively when they were in charge of a lesser number of patients than when they were in charge of caring for many patients. On the other hand, the study undertaken by Parker et al. (2017) showed that the nurses who cared for many patients ignored many significant necessary procedures vital in the treatment process, such as proper hygienic measures. This factor causes patients to contract UTIs.

Anticipated Outcomes and Outcomes Comparison

The outcomes of the investigative process undertaken by Hernandez et al. (2019) are expected to show that reducing the patient-to-nurse ratio reduces UTI incidences in catheterized patients. The process is implemented by increasing the number of nurses in the clinical setting hence decreasing the number of individuals the professionals have to care for. Similarly, it is expected that the study by Parker et al. (2017) will show that increasing the number of nursing staff levels in a healthcare setting will reduce incidences of UTIs. Although the two studies use different investigative approaches, they bring to light significant evidence that is critical in answering the PICOT question and compiling factual content that can help resolve a considerable nursing practice problem that negatively impacts the outcomes of the treatment process.

Ethical Consideration

Hernandez et al. (2019) ensured that they followed the regulatory stipulation that requires investigators to apply ethical principles during the investigative process. The authors sought the consent of the participants before they were incorporated into the research process. They were given forms which they filled out to show that they had willingly participated in the investigative process. Similarly, Parker et al. (2019) ensured that the investigative process was undertaken ethically by seeking the permission of the ethical committees of the healthcare committees that were incorporated in the study. The permission gave the authors the authority to carry out the investigative process without any restrictions.

Conclusion

Quantitative studies are significant investigative processes that help the masses to get meaningful insights into an issue. Quantitative studies were undertaken to determine the effectiveness of reducing nurse to patient ratios as n intervention that is undertaken to prevent incidences of UTIs in catheterized patients. The use of quantitative studies is significant because it explores an issue extensively and highlights critical perspectives that help in understanding it more comprehensively. The quantitative studies used a different process to compile content that can be used to answer the PICOT question. They used various methods to accumulate information, ranging from questionnaires to interviews and observation, to extract significant information that proved that the intervention could adequately prevent UTIs. The data is essential to the nursing practice because it ensures that adequate processes and work modalities are used in the care of catheterized patients.

References

Hernandez, M., King, A., & Stewart, L. (2019). Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention and nurses' checklist documentation of their indwelling catheter management practices. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand, 35(1). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Monina-Hernandez/publication/340445613_Catheter-associated_urinary_tract_infection

Parker, V., Giles, M., Graham, L., Suthers, B., Watts, W., O'Brien, T., & Searles, A. (2017). Avoiding inappropriate urinary catheter use and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI): a pre-post control intervention study. BMC health services research, 17(1), 1-9. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-017-2268-2