Nursing tutor needed

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NR2 _ Research Critique Template

Part 1: Article Information

Title

Is the title clear, accurate and unambiguous?

Is it clearly related to content and appropriate?

Is it of appropriate length?

PICO?

The title is forthright and easy to understand with all the simple words used. From the

title, it can be easily concluded that the article is exploring that how the smoking history

and motivation to quit affect schizophrenia patients in the smoking cessation programs.

The length of the title is 15 words, which is within the adequate word range of a title

(Knight & Ingersoll,1996). In addition, PICO (population, intervention, comparison and

outcome) were indicated in the title except the comparison is not shown since it is not

applicable in this article.

Abstract

Does the abstract offer a clear overview of the study including the research

problem, sample, methodology, finding and recommendations?

Is it clearly presented and well-organised?

Is it of appropriate length?

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The abstract is divided into different parts by using the subheadings on the basis of

giving a clear overview of the study. According to the different subheadings given such

as objective, method, results, and conclusion, it make the readers easy to read and

understand the contents. In the objective’s part, the aim of this study is stated in a very

clear manner. Moreover, method and results are explained while all the study design,

targeted population and outcomes are present in the parts. In the conclusion part,

smoking cessation program focus points were given based on the findings. Meanwhile,

the length of the abstract met the word range requirement for most scholarly journals,

which is from 75 to 300 words (Knight & Ingersoll,1996).

Part 2: Introduction to article

Background Introduction

Does the introduction provide enough information about the research topic?

Are statistics provided to support rationale?

In the introduction part, massive information was provided to prove the poor outcomes

of the previous smoking cessation programs and indicate that motivation to change was

affected by many factors. Some statistics were provided for proving the need of

improvement smoking cessation programs and low motivation to change for the

schizophrenic smokers.

Rationale

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Does the rationale clearly linked to the research topic?

Is it clearly presented and well-explained?

Is the rationale strongly supported?

There is no specific paragraph for explaining rationales. In spite of no clear explanation

on the rationales, the sentences and contents in the article were strongly supported with

evidence by using the research outcomes from the others. Moreover, the citation of the

article is clear and easy to follow.

Part 3: Literature Review

Literature review

Are all the relevant concepts and variables (conceptual or theoretical framework)

included in the review?

Does the summary follow a logical sequence?

Are primary sources mainly used?

Is there a balance of review and critique analysis of literature?

Does the review follow the purpose of the study?

The literature review for this article was neatly and logically organized throughout the

article from the perspectives of readers. The variables which are smoking history,

motivation to quit and smoking cessation were mentioned in the article. At the same

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time, it also mentioned about the contents which are the non-ideal previous smoking

cessation programs outcomes and factors affect motivation to quit. The citations used in

the article were all properly located to support the article contents and most of them are

primary source. Primary source is the very important since the results belong to the

original researchers who put in efforts. There is a balance between review and critique

since the researchers give their analysis following the review given. Meanwhile, the

review also linked back to the purpose of the study.

Themes

Are the themes relevant to the research topic?

Are they clearly presented and well-explained?

Themes is closely related to the research topic which is stated as the smoking and the

motivation to change. Meanwhile, the themes were mentioned repeatedly in every parts

by using the separate subheadings as what presented in the measure and results parts.

Research gaps

Is the research gap clearly linked or related to the purpose of the study?

Is it clearly stated?

Are they logically presented from the literature review?

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The research gap was not mentioned clearly in the article, which caused difficulties for

the readers to find. However, the gaps can be concluded as three small points from the

introduction part. First, success for abstinence outcomes is not significant and the

relapse rates after treatment discontinuation are high. Second, little is known about

motivation and readiness to change in smokers with schizophrenia. Third, it is unclear if

the frequent exposure to or thought about the negative consequences of smoking and

self-efficacy are relevant to the smokers with schizophrenia.

Part 4: Designing the Research I

Aim or Purpose of study

Is the aim or purpose of the study clearly linked or related to the research gap?

Is it clearly stated?

Is it relevant to the nursing practice or research?

The aim of the study is clearly linked to the recommended research gaps given

previously. The aim clearly stated that the current study is for better understanding of

the relationships among smoking and quit history, negative consequences due to

smoking, readiness to change, smoking temptation, and self-efficacy in the smokers

with schizophrenia. It is relevant to nursing research because this study will guide the

designing of the smoking cessation program by having this research to support and will

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certainly stimulate the schizophrenia patients to be much more determined to quit

smoking.

Hypotheses or Research questions

Is it linked or related to the research gap and purpose?

Are the variables measurable in the statement?

Is the study illustrating a difference or relationship between the variables?

Can PICO be illustrated from the hypothesis or research question?

The research question is not mentioned directly in the article, instead, it can be

summarized from the article, which is what are the relationships among smoking

history , quit history and factors affect motivation to change in the smokers with

schizophrenia for smoking cessation programs. With the method adopted in this study,

all the variables are measurable. By using the recommended research question, all the

variables or PICO are involved in and the relationships among the several variables

were illustrated clearly.

Part 5: Designing the Research II

Independent and dependent variables

Are they clearly stated?

Are the measurements of dependent and independent variables clearly

described?

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Are they clearly linked or related to the research question or hypothesis?

Independent variable (smoking history and motivation to quit) and dependent variable

(quit smoking) are highlighted in the title of this article. In the article, these variables are

both being put up again to emphasis the study subjects. Obviously, they are closely

linked to the research question suggested previously. However, the measurements of

dependent and independent variables were not clearly stated.

Research design

Is the research design clearly identified?

Is the design appropriate for the study question/hypothesis?

In this research, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) research design was used, which

can be easily extracted by the readers from the article. RCTs are known to be the most

rigorous way in exploring the cause-effect relationship (Sibbald & Roland, 1998).

Regarding to this study, the cause-effect relationship of how the smoking history and

motivation to change affect the smoking cessation outcomes was explored and biases

were prevented by using double-blinded method, therefore, RCTs is an appropriate

study design for this research.

Part 6: Methodology I

Sampling methods

Has the target population been clearly identified?

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How were the sample selected?

Was it a probability or non-probability sample?

Is the sampling method appropriate for the study?

The target population is clearly stated the participants met DSM-IV criteria for

schizophrenia, smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day, and had a score of 4 or more on

the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence. However, the sampling method used for

this study was not mentioned in the article. In my opinion, probability random sampling

might be appropriate since biases are reduced with such method during the sampling

process. Besides, external validity will be increased if a large number of participants

present.

Sample size

Is it of adequate size?

Does the sample size allow for representativeness of the population?

In the article, the sample size was 41 for baseline and 28 post-treatment, directly

mentioned, stated in the procedure part. Worldwidely, 51 million people worldwide suffer

from schizophrenia at any one time while rates of schizophrenia patients smoke have

been estimated as high as 80% (Prochaska, Hall, & Bero, 2008; Schizophreniacom,

2017). Obviously, the sample size 41 is too small to represent the population of the 40.8

million schizophrenia smokers all over the world.

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Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Are the inclusion/exclusion criteria clearly identified?

Are the inclusion/exclusion criteria appropriate for the study?

The inclusion and exclusion criteria given were explained thoroughly and can be easily

understood. The inclusion criteria is the participants met DSM-IV criteria for

schizophrenia, smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day and have a score of 4 or more

more on the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence while the exclusion criteria

include being medically unstable, currently depressed, active substance abuse, taking

bupropion, or having a seizure disorder, other neurological illness, or a family history of

seizures. These criteria details allowed the study to be conducted properly.

Part 7: Methodology II

Ethics procedure

Were the participants fully informed about the nature of the research?

Was the autonomy/confidentiality of the participants guaranteed?

Were the participants protected from harm?

Was ethical permission granted for the study?

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In the study, the consents were informed and signed by the participants, however,

explanation of the procedure to the participants was not discussed in the article.

Besides, the confidentiality of the participants was not stated but it can be concluded

that autonomy of participants was respected since 12 participants dropped out in the

process of the study. This study procedure were approved by the University of

Maryland, School of Medicine Institutional Review Board. Getting the approval is to

ensure the procedures are free of harm to participants.

Materials or Instrumentation

Are all data collection instruments clearly identified and described?

Is the instrument appropriate for the study?

How was it developed?

Were reliability and validity testing discussed?

Assessment forms, questionnaires, Scales, and EC 50 Micro III Smokelyzer Breath CO

Monitor are the instruments used and explained for this study. The instruments were

developed from the previous reliable study conclusions or the authorities. The

instruments are suitable for this study since the smoking and the motivation to quit

smoking were only can be measured from individual basis. Instruments used in the

study was proven and stated to have good consistency and validity for researching.

Procedure

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Were the steps to be clearly described in detail, logical, and easy to follow?

Was the steps provided such as the study could be replicated?

Were methods used appropriate to clinical situation?

Are data collection procedures similar for all subjects?

The steps were clearly described in the article such as who lead the group therapy and

time of assessments were done. However, where did the participants come from was

not mentioned. The steps were easily to follow and can be replicated for the future study

referring and improving. The method used was appropriate to clinical situation since the

same caring team, weekly group therapy and continuous assessment were done for the

same group of participants. Except that subjects who withdraw from the study, all the

other participants experienced the same study process.

Part 8: Discussion

Conclusion

Were there concise summary statements based on findings?

Are the findings linked back to the literature review?

Was the hypothesis/research question supported and explained?

Were the results able to be generalised to the population?

The summary was organized concisely based on the findings from the study conducted.

The findings linked back to the literature review regarding to the motivation to change

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NR2 _ Research Critique Template

over time. Higher self-efficacy is evidenced to have better outcomes for smoking

cessation program. The research question was well explained and elaborated for future

research areas. Therefore, all these findings and conclusion can be brought to the

population.

Limitations

Were the strengths and limitations of the study discussed?

Were the limitations linked to the methodology of the study?

Was a recommendation for further research made?

The strength was not mentioned clearly but it can be concluded from the findings. First,

higher dependence is related to higher temptation. Second, high self-efficacy is related

to better outcomes of quitting smoking. Third, involving both readiness and self-efficacy

into the clinical setting will get a more accurate answers from individuals. The two

limitations of the study were stated clearly in the article. Subsequent researchers and

readers can easily get the information needed from the discussion. Following the

limitations, future research directions were given. In the article, the researchers did not

discuss the relationship between limitations and methodology.

Implications to practice and research

Were the implications possible to implement?

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Do the implications have any clinical significance to nursing practice or

research?

The article mentioned the implications of the findings to the clinical assessment. The

application areas were pointed out for clinical settings. If the implications are applied to

the nursing practice or research, the participants may have higher chance to quit

smoking successfully than no application.

Word count: 1580

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References

Knight, K.L., Ingersoll, C.D. (1996). Structure of a Scholarly Manuscript: 66 Tips for What

Goes Where. Journal of Athletic Training,31(3), 201–206.

Prochaska, J. J., Hall, S. M., & Bero, L. A. (2008). Tobacco Use Among Individuals With

Schizophrenia: What Role Has the Tobacco Industry Played?* Schizophr Bull, 34

(3), 555–567.

Schizophreniacom. (2017). Schizophreniacom. Retrieved 10 November, 2017, from

http://www.schizophrenia.com/szfacts.htm

Sibbald, B., Roland, M. (1998). Understanding controlled trials Why are randomised

controlled trials important? General practice,316, 201.