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Research Article Critique

Patient involvement for improved patient safety: A qualitative study of nurses’ perceptions and experiences. This research article was published online in August 2017, and I chose this particular article because the study was relevant to my area of interests and the research was intensive. This paper analyses the study and assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the study.

Methodology

Study design

A qualitative study was used using standardized open-ended questions. The researcher considered this to be the best alternative basing on the assumption that human beings construct the meaning of their experiences when they interact with their environment. The researcher used open-ended questions to make the interviewees comfortable in answering the questions. However, this research is sometimes time-consuming and the researcher might have spent a lot of time in the field collecting data. In this case, it is the best method.

Phenomenon of interest

The researcher does not clearly state the phenomenon of interest in this research article. The researcher generally describes what the study is all about and why it is important. It does not define what specific elements the researcher is interested in.

Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study is to establish the perception of nurses on the role of patients in enhancing their safety. The purpose has clearly been explained. This is a valid study that contributes to efficiency in nursing. These findings are useful in the formulation of policies related to health. The findings will determine if the healthcare authorities ought to adjust policies and create a better environment for patient participation.

Sampling

A purposive sampling technique was used (Skagerstrom et al., 2017). Different health statuses were considered to get information on a broad range. This technique is effective since the researcher was able to get varied perceptions and experiences of nurses. Random sampling could result in picking participants with the same characteristics, and the findings would be limited and do not represent what exactly happens in the field of health (Yardley, 2000). This sampling is therefore appropriate.

Data collection

Participants were asked general questions on the relevance of patients’ safety. They were also asked specific questions about their personal experiences relevant to patients’ safety. They were also required to present the existing guidelines and platforms that give patients a chance to give their opinions. Lastly, the questionnaires demanded that participants recommend strategies that can better improve patients’ involvement for better care. Pilot testing was done, but this alone cannot guarantee that the questions are effective. The digital recording device ought to have been supplemented by another form of recording in case researchers experience challenges generating the data. It was a good step for the researchers to exclude participants’ statements that could reveal their identity for protection purposes. The information collected is adequate to answer the research questions, and data saturation was achieved.

Data analysis

Data was analyzed basing on the content available in researchers responses to validate the findings, and investor triangulation was used. The researchers had the research objective in mind and noted down all the information considered relevant to the study. They assigned codes to certain information, and similar codes were grouped which made the analysis easier. The researchers were true and loyal to the data they collected in the field. There exists a logical connection between the data collected and the strategies of analyzing it. The data was descriptive, whereby participants were given a chance to express themselves by answering open-ended questions. The analysis involved looking for useful information in participants’ description.

Ethical Considerations

The article states that the research was done with full adherence to ethical standards. It was done according to the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki Ethical Principle. The researcher obtained the consent of participants (Skagerstrom et al. 2017). No sensitive personal information was obtained since they were not relevant to the study. The researchers did not seek the approval of IRB, which should not be the case. Even though they were not interested in personal information, it is prudent that they seek approval. Generally, the ethical considerations of these researchers were above average as they ensured confidentiality and autonomy of research subjects. During data analysis, any information that would reveal the identity of the participant was excluded.

Findings, Conclusions, and Trustworthiness

The researchers summarized the information in three major findings. One is that patients and nurses have shared responsibility regarding patient participation. Secondly, nurses should create a good environment for patient involvement by initiating dialogue. Lastly, it was revealed that patients, existing healthcare system and health care professionals all contribute to poor patient participation. The findings are well described in context and can be used for future research. They are also aligned with the objective of the study. These findings are true to data, and they depict the information that was collected from participants. A lot of literature has been used in the research, and many sources cited. Most of the sources are recent which places the study in current literature (Cotton & Gupta, 2004).

The significance of the study to the field of nursing has been adequately addressed. The study aimed to get the perception and experiences of nurses who would be used to better the health sector. The information gathered from the participants is denoted that something ought to be done in the healthcare sector to improve patients participation. This research can be used to make necessary adjustments in healthcare systems. There are several recommendations, but none of them is related to future studies.

This research exhibits credibility since the initial coding was performed by researchers independently (Skagerstrom et al. 2017). Two researchers took part in the categorization of the codes before making necessary adjustments that satisfied all the researchers. The research is also credible because the research team consisted of members from different disciplines hence providing complementary skills. There is no external person involved in auditing what the primary researchers did. This research is highly transferrable and can be used in different contexts.

References

Cotten, S. R., & Gupta, S. S. (2004). Characteristics of online and offline health information seekers and factors that discriminate between them. Social science & medicine, 59(9), 1795-1806.

Skagerström, J., Ericsson, C., Nilsen, P., Ekstedt, M., & Schildmeijer, K. (2017). Patient involvement for improved patient safety: A qualitative study of nurses’ perceptions and experiences. Nursing Open, 4(4), 230-239.

Yardley, L. (2000). Dilemmas in qualitative health research. Psychology and health, 15(2), 215-228.