Two Articles Critique

ARTICLE CRITIQUE 1
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Quantitative Journal Critique
Debra K. Moser and Kathleen Dracup
(2000), Impact of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training on Perceived Control in Spouses of Recovering Cardiac Patients: a quantitative perspective, 23, 270-278
Introduction
This paper aims to evaluate the critique "Impact of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training on Perceived Control in Spouses of Recovering Cardiac Patients: a quantitative perspective" presented in the Journal of Nursing and Health.
Overview of the Journal
Research in Nursing and Health is a general, peer reviewed, research journal that is dedicated to the publication of a broad scope of research and theory that will inform the nursing practices and other disciplines in health. Research reports on nursing practice, administration, education and history on health issues suitable to nursing, and the research findings testing in practice, are normally invited by the editors of this journal. If the knowledge contained in the theory papers is advanced, there is preference that is normally given to them as opposed to simply reviewed theories. The acceptance of integrative reviews of literature depends on whether the gaps in the knowledge are identified and the directions given for future research. The journal is published in the United States of America. The journal is suitable for use in United Kingdom and Australia due to similarities in backgrounds and in practice.
Authors
The research article presents facts about the authors' education and their place of work during the time of writing the articles. From the information accessible, it is obvious that all of the authors are highly educated and they have very rich experiences in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation research. However, the article does not provide specific author's professional experiences. It is not known whether the authors work with the counseling department or patient`s surgery operation. Lack of authors' professional experiences in these fields could potentially make the study less trustworthy. It is suggested by Coughlan, et al. (2007) that a research study should be evaluated on its own advantages and not taken for granted to be legitimate and dependable merely based on the authors' qualifications.
Title
The title to this article is "Impact of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training on Perceived Control in Spouses of Recovering Cardiac Patients: a quantitative perspective." (Moser and Dracup, 2000) A good title must be between 10 and 15 words long and must identify for the reader the study purpose or objective. The title should have the study object, the subject matter being argued including the context of the study (Hames, 2007). The title is well built up because it has recapitulated everything about qualities of a good title. It has an object of study being Spouses of Recovering Cardiac Patients and the subject matter is ‘Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training on Perceived Control`. The titles that are lengthy or very short are found be mystifying or deceptive (Parahoo, 2006)
Abstract
This paper is an academic critique of an article written by Debra K. Moser and Kathleen Dracup (2000) titled: Impact of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training on Perceived Control in Spouses of Recovering Cardiac Patients: a quantitative perspective. The authors undertook a research study to examine whether there is a disparity in emotional distress among spouses of recovering cardiac patients, on the foundation of perceived control, and to investigate whether the perceived control can be enhanced by cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. My examination systematically focuses on specific aspects of the article in terms of process and validity of research methods and results. The sample taken is not enough as to make conclusive deductions or sweeping statement to eventual and maybe to the instantaneous, population. This is a structured abstract as it gives step by step running of events in the study.
Background information and objectives of the study
Spouses play an important role in assisting cardiac patients in successful recuperation from severe cardiac conditions and adjust to persistent infirmity. Cardiac patients who are single and who lack a source of emotional support experience a greater risk of frequent myocardial infection. Psychological support is critical towards quick recovery of cardiovascular problems. Spouses of cardiac patients constantly report such cases of psychological distress. Higher perceived control in partners of cardiac patients is related to less emotional distress. The study aims to establish the effect of emotional adjustment in spouses of recovering cardiac patients based on level of perceived control. Besides, the study aims to find out how the level of perceived control could be enhanced in spouses of cardiac patients by cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. However, no clear conclusions are provided as to effectiveness of training spouses of cardiac patients. The authors failed to disclose their findings on patients without spouses, on they respond to treatment and recovery.
Methods
Trial design
The study applied a longitudinal, multicenter, experimental design to establish the effect on perceived control of CPR training for cardiac patients` spouses. A baseline was used in one month period to measure perceived control and emotional adjustment. Some ratios were allocated for non-treatment group (n=84), social support group (n=68), and risk factor education CPR group (n=67). Nevertheless, these dimensions are based on various assumptions which cannot be used to make clear conclusions.
Participants and sample size
Approval was provided to the researchers by Human Subject Protection Committee from all sides as the subjects gave informed consent before study participation. Recruitment was done from five metropolitan hospitals where persons of either gender were suitable for the study. The participants were to be over 18, able to read and write and were spouses of another residing with a cardiac patient. This should be a condition to have existed in the last 12 months. The majority were spouses while the remaining groups were in a committed relationship. A total of 219 spouses of cardiac patients recapitulating from an acute cardiac event were enrolled where 196 completed the study. This is not still enough to be used to make apparent conclusions to the real life situation due to disparity in geographical and cultural backgrounds.
Interventions and outcomes
The majority of participants were women (83.2%), well educated, (Mean 14+ 2.7 years and Caucasian with mean age of 59+10.5 years) there was no huge differences in trait between the subjects enrolled previously and those who completed (p>0.05), variables observed were emotional adjustment and perceived control. The subjects did complete a baseline standard within 1-2 weeks before CPR training. The instruments were mailed to the subjects and returned by mail showing their interest in the study. Spouses in the risk factor education-CPR participated in a 30 minute discussion of how to modify cardiac risk factors. Those who did not finish the study gave reasons of lack of time, interest or illness.
Randomization
Randomization in blocks was preferred over individual randomization to remove experimental conditions contamination at the study sites. This is because spouses of CPR often spent time together in the waiting rooms. This was very effective in decisive psychological cost for patients and spouses of CPR training for cardiac patients` spouses. Nonetheless, through randomization used by the authors, there is room for biasness which will limit the level of conclusion.
Statistical methods
T-test was applied in establishing which groups perceived control changed to a large extent over time. Alpha was adjusted for numerous assessments using Bonferroni adjustment. The mean score on the family control attitudes scale at baseline was at 17.7+5.2 with a range of scores from 4 to 28. Medium score of between 16 & 19 was also given for both perceived control and risk factor education-CPR. There was no impact of subject gender, age or educational level or type of cardiac phenomenon. There are still other statistical methods that can be applied in making better deductions which the researchers could apply. The method used is not satisfactory enough.
Ethical considerations
All the protocol was followed duly in getting approval provided from Human Subject Protection Committee from all sides as the subjects gave informed consent before study participation. Recruitment was done from five metropolitan hospitals where persons of either gender were suitable for the study. The participants were to be over 18, able to read and write and were spouses of another residing with a cardiac patient. This should be a condition to have existed in the last 12 months.
Discussions
The patients and their spouses had a successful adapting with the reality of going through an acute cardiac condition. Adapting to the condition is a matter of experiencing and managing various threats and uncertainties and getting to be contend with feelings of loss of control. The perceived control recognition influences emotional distress gives researchers and clinicians with attention for specified interventions. Quantitative research assumes the possibilities of replication. (Cohen, Manion & Morrison, 2003) Thus, the probability training and implementation is researchable, as it builds upon pre-existing research.
Limitations
The study used a small number of participants hence it is inappropriate to generalize the findings. Nevertheless, the participants gave first-hand information hence the data is reliable as the examples given were empirical.
Conclusion and References
The conclusion of this research gives researchers; room for more probing for improvement in the subject matter. This is because the researchers and clinicians focus is drawn on the perceived control recognition influence on emotional distress with attention for specified interventions. The soundness of one tool was recognized by three Cardiovascular professionals who compared the items on the tool for clarity and congruence with the theoretical framework.(Tullman et al., 2007, p. 488) The references are not up to date hence not appropriate for the current emerging issues in cardiovascular interventions. This does not address the latest developments hence a need for researchers to use more current studies. The absence of documented research testing could put into question the legitimacy and reliability of the research tool.