Example Of “Background Of The Study” Essay

Critical review of nominated literature

Critical review of nominated literature

“Briefly describe the health issue of the study’s focus?”
Breast cancer is one of the most common issues faced by women (Zastrow, & Kirst-Ashman, 2015), and after treatment of breast cancer, they have to visit hospital outpatient clinics regularly. This regular visit is used to detect and treat the recurrence of disease at an early stage. However, this follow-up has not been found much useful, and researchers are working on the alternative ways to provide follow-up care. These alternative ways include General Practitioner follow-up, Radiographer follow-up, and Breast care nurses (BCNs) follow-up. There is also another type of follow-up, i.e. telephone follow-up. This kind of follow-up with BCNs is found to have greater level of satisfaction as compared to face-to-face follow-ups (Beaver, Williamson, & Chalmers, 2010).

“What is the significance of the study?”

This study has examined the views of patients and specialist nurses (BCNs) about the telephone follow-up. Researchers have concluded that overall they gave positive views about the telephone follow-up. This follow-up is found to be convenient and normal for patients. Moreover, patients can continue their follow-up without any hindrance and time-related problems. On the other hand, this study showed that BCNs can develop new communication skills, and they are able to select patients easily and benefit them (Beaver, Williamson, & Chalmers, 2010).

“Overview of research design”

“What was the aim of the research?”
Basic aim of the study was to get the views of patients and specialist BCNs on telephone follow-up after the treatment of breast cancer. These views can assist in determining experiences of patients and BCNs of utilizing the telephonic conversation rather than attending hospital clinics.

“What research design did the researchers use? Was it appropriate? Why/why not?”

Researchers used the Qualitative Design in which they conducted semi-structured interviews on telephone follow-up with 32 people including 28 patients and 4 BCNs. In order to analyse the data (audio-recorded interviews and their transcription), they used the content analysis. This qualitative design was used to enrich the quantitative data that was already collected in the main trial conducted in 2009 by Beaver and collaborators with the title “Comparing hospital and telephone follow-up after treatment for breast cancer: a randomised equivalence trial.”
Qualitative research interview is one of the most common methods of data collection and analysis (Savin-Baden, & Major, 2012). This qualitative research design is appropriate for the study as it can help in gaining more insight and removing the complexity of the quantitative data. This design is also helpful in getting more information about human behaviour, needs, routines, opinions, emotions, and patterns without any consideration to fully understanding the meaningful data.

“Sampling”

“Who were the study participants?”
Study participants were patients from the study of Beaver and collaborators with the title “Comparing hospital and telephone follow-up after treatment for breast cancer: a randomised equivalence trial.” 28 patients were thoroughly interviewed in the study. Moreover, 4 BCNs were interviewed after giving written as well as verbal information of the study.
“What are the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the sample? Why is it important to have these criteria identified before recruitment?”
In the actual study, 374 patients were randomised to either telephone follow-up or hospital follow-up by BCNs. In those patients, 173 were present in the telephone intervention. Out of these patients, about 20% were chosen randomly through a computerized system while considering patient identification numbers. Invitation letters were sent to them, and 34 patients accepted the participation. Six women were unavailable to give interview, so interviews of 28 patients were conducted. Four BCNs were selected randomly. All these 32 participants agreed to share their experiences of telephonic intervention. It is vital to get the willingness of participants as they would give the most trustworthy and beneficial information without any problem.

“What sampling technique was employed in this study? Was the sampling technique appropriate for the research design? Why/why not?”

In this study, random sampling technique has been adopted. Samples were chosen in a random manner, i.e. samples can be placed at a random spatial or temporal context. This technique was appropriate for the study as it can give good coverage of the study area with minimum biasing of sampling techniques. Moreover, every member of the whole population has an equal chance of being selected.

“How was the sample size determined? Was it appropriate and why?”

Sample size was 32, and this was appropriate for the study. There are no “hard and fast rules” for sample size determination in qualitative studies. In this study, sample size in the study was determined according to the concept that there is “nothing left to learn”, i.e. the number of participants especially patients were sufficient to give some form of new information, and are sufficient to achieve the required goal (Fain, 2013).

“Data collection”

“How was the data collected?”
Data was collected after designing two interview guides for patients and BCNs separately. Those guides and rules have questions related to the follow-up after breast cancer treatment. Patients and BCNs were also asked to give answers about their experiences related to telephonic intervention. All this data was collected in a relaxed conversational environment. In case of patients, socio-demographical as well as clinical variables were already obtained during recruitment process.

“Was the data collection method appropriate for the study question and the research design? Why/why not?”

This data collection method was appropriate for the study as they were helpful in sufficient qualitative assessment of the telephone follow-up. This data collection included most of the information such as the experiences of participants, and their likes as well as dislikes about the intervention. If we consider the time for collection of data, it can also be considered appropriate. Researchers reported that 30 to 60 minutes were consumed in patient interviews, and about 90 minutes were taken by BCNs in their interviews.

“What measures were or were not taken to ensure rigor?”

In this study, a small number of patients were interviewed out of all those patients randomized in the main study. However, harmony with randomization showed unbiased views of patients. Views of family members of patients were not considered helping in increasing original views of patients. On a further note, rigor of the research process was confirmed by proper analysis and regular review as well as de-briefing of data.

“Data analysis/results”

“Identify and describe the data analysis? Was it appropriate?”
Data was analysed through content analysis procedure. Audio-recording was transcribed and open coded. A codebook was developed and re-examined. Microsoft WORD was used for data transcription and coding. Coding was checked by different researchers in the study, and any discrepancies were removed by consensus. Themes as well as categories were determined from that transcription and coding. That data analysis was slightly inappropriate as more advanced software or applications can be used for the data analysis and researchers have not probably used them.

“What were the findings?”

Research shows that both patient and BCNs are in the support of telephone follow-up. Though, they have shown certain negative comments but positive comments were more than negative comments. Researchers developed five important themes from the patient interviews; these were normalizing, convenience, continuity, and putting a face to the voice. On the other hand, they have also developed four main themes from the BCN interviews; these are developing skills, patient benefits, patient choice, and meeting needs.

“Can the study findings be used in other settings? Why/why not?”

These findings can be used in other settings and situations such as telephone follow-up of other illnesses such as ICU survivors. This telephone intervention is easy that is why it can efficiently be used in other settings as, for example, BCNs can talk with patients from the ease of their homes or travelling. Same thing is from the patients’ side, i.e. patients can use this intervention and carry their usual life in different places.

“Evidence utilization”

“Would you implement the findings of this study in clinical practice? Why/why not?”
I would implement this finding in the clinical practice as, for example, nurses at advanced levels of practice can be placed to give this kind of complex intervention, i.e. telephone follow-up. It can help nurses in dealing with patients in a relatively calm environment as compared to face-to-face follow-up. However, it has to be considered that proper training as well as efficient peer support is necessary in clinical implementation.

References

Beaver, K., Williamson, S., & Chalmers, K. (2010). Telephone follow-up after treatment for breast cancer: views and experiences of patients and specialist breast care nurses. J Clin Nurs, 19(19-20), 2916-2924.
Fain, J. A. (2013). Reading, Understanding, and Applying Nursing Research: F. A. Davis Company.
Savin-Baden, M., & Major, C. H. (2012). Qualitative Research: The Essential Guide to Theory and Practice: Routledge.
Zastrow, C., & Kirst-Ashman, K. (2015). Empowerment Series: Understanding Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Cengage Learning.