Research Critiques and PICOT Statement Final Draft

Research Critique

Background

Sanitation remains a major concern in healthcare as hospitals and clinics are expected to maintain high levels of hygiene. The cleaning staff within healthcare facilities should ensure that high levels of cleanliness are maintained (Caselli et al., 2018). Failure to observe hygiene can expose patients and nursing community to various hospital acquired infections. Smoking in health facilities is one of the major sanitary problem facing healthcare facilities such as hospitals and clinics.

Several studies have been conducted to find out various ways through which the issue of tobacco and nicotine smoking can be prevented. The researches have deeply explored the element of managing the problem of smoking in healthcare setting –including various ways through which smoking can be stopped. Notably, the issue of smoking in healthcare facilities is evident especially among the 18-30-year-old adult population. This study seeks to explore various ways through which tobacco and nicotine smoking among patients in healthcare facilities can be stopped. Moreover, the study seeks to establish the alternatives for smoking whose effects are less severe.

Problem Statement

Smoking in healthcare facilities is among critical problems which seem to compromise the type of sanitation available in hospitals and clinics. This is indeed an issue that require quick attention and management since it puts the lives of patients and nursing community at risk. A gap exists in the researches which have been carried out to educate the public and nursing professionals on the effects tobacco and nicotine smoking as well as how to manage and stop those unhealthy behaviors.

Significance

The significance of the study is to help management in healthcare facilities understand and gain knowledge on the effects of tobacco and nicotine smoking within their premises –including the common diseases associated with the behavior. Moreover, the study will be significant in helping the nursing community to improve the efficiency in preventing smoking as well as alternatives to this practice.

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to improve the level of hygiene within the healthcare facilities in order to eradicate the hospital acquired infections associated with tobacco and nicotine smoking.

Objective

The objective of this study is help nursing professionals to enhance the quality of healthcare delivery by helping tobacco and nicotine smokers to stop the unhealthy smoking behavior.

Research Question

How does cessation of tobacco and nicotine smoking among adult patients help to improve sanitation and reduce hospital acquired infections?

Article Analysis

There two articles –one by Metrick et al. and another one by Buller et al. – forms the basis of this study. The two articles have been used to answer my PICOT question. First, in terms of problem/patient/population, the problem of smoking that is common among the population of adults aged 18-30 years has been addressed. Moreover, intervention or indicator highlighted in the articles is replacement therapy treatment; comparison is lack of undertaking replacement therapy treatment; while the outcome of interest is smoking cessation.

The interventions and comparison groups highlighted in the two articles are equally similar to those identified in my PICOT question in a number of ways. First, the population of study used in both cases include young adults aged between 18-30 years –group that is mostly addicted to smoking. The interventions are meant to stop smoking behaviors or even seek an alternative way whose effects are less severe. The focus of these interventions is to ensure that there is reduction in nicotine and tobacco smoking in healthcare facilities. Finally, the main aim of the interventions is to ensure that both patients and nursing professionals are not exposed to the risk of contracting hospital acquired infections resulting from smoking behaviors.

Method of Study

The two articles use different methods of study. The first article by Buller et al. (2014) uses qualitative research methods involving grey literature, database, and articles review. On the other hand, the article by Metrik et al. (2014) uses observation and direct experimentation. However, the first article uses deep analysis of previous researches while the second one explores comparative element seeking to compare various samples from the population of study. The method used by Buller et al. is more appropriate since it involves thorough analysis of materials relevant to the study in order to help researchers in establishing the gaps available. This allows the study to address those gaps. However, the research by Metrik et al. lacks academic rigor due to the fact that the findings were based on generalization hence affecting their validity.

Observation

Benefit

· It is one of the easiest and time saving method since it does not require any technical knowledge to use it in collecting data.

Limitation

· It lacks reliability since it is subject to “personal bias of observer” (Jamshed, 2014).

Article reviews

Benefit

· It provides deep information regarding a particular topic within the shortest time possible hence enabling the researcher to understand any gap available (Rowe, 2014).

Limitation

· Lacks clarity since it is prone to biasness in terms of the materials selected by the researcher

Direct Experimentation

Benefit

· The researcher has a high control over the study variables

Limitation

· Direct experimentation can produce unreliable and artificial findings (Barker & Milivojevich, 2016).

Study Results

The results of the study by Buller et al. indicates that smoking is prevalent among young adults in United States. The findings also propose preferential treatment aimed at reverting the behavior of nicotine smoking among the target population. Moreover, the study findings indicate that replacement therapy including nicotine patch is effective in helping to stop the smoking habit among the target population.

Additionally, the article by Matrik et al. sought to establish ways through marijuana can be used to help the target population to cease smoking tobacco and alcohol drinking. It was found that marijuana can be used as an alternative way of stopping tobacco smoking since the effects of bhang are less severe compared to those of tobacco that can cause cancer among other effects.

Implications of the Study

Notably, the two studies chosen to guide my research can have a positive implication in nursing practice. First, they can enable nurses to improve healthcare delivery but helping the target population to stop smoking nicotine and tobacco which have negative effects on the users. Secondly, it can help nursing professionals in enhancing the sanitation of healthcare facilities reducing the possibilities hospital acquired diseases that exposes patients and nurses to serious risks.

Comparing Outcomes

The first anticipated outcome for my PICOT question is reduction of tobacco and nicotine smoking in hospitals. Secondly, the anticipated outcome is improved sanitation and reduction of risks that patients and nurses are exposed to as a result of poor hygiene. Thirdly, there is need to improve the quality of healthcare service delivery and reduction in risks of contracting dieses associated with smoking.

The anticipated outcomes of my study have particular similarities to those of the two chosen articles since all of them seeks to ensure that the target populations stop smoking nicotine or tobacco. Moreover, the outcomes of the both studies are aimed at helping the target population to switch to alternative smoking that is less severe, for instance, smoking marijuana.

References

Barker, T. B., & Milivojevich, A. (2016). Quality by experimental design. Chapman and Hall/CRC.