Inpatient Pressure Ulcer Prevalence in an Acute Care Hospital Using Evidence-Based Practice Research Article Critique

Research writing is a sophisticated process which requires In every research writing, it is researchers towise follow distinct established rules and guidelines to ensure the intended goal of a survey is achievedto adhere to all properties of article writing for publishing. Academic research is that process where a problem is initiated, and the right measures for research are put across to research for the same. This procedure ess involves the selection of a topic and undertaking an investigation on the chosen subject by collecting, or gathering of the relevant data, analyzinganalyzing, and that data and giving its interpreting relevant data to communicate an argument in a logical and succinct way. Therefore, for an article to qualify as good academic research, various characteristics and rules must be followed to the latter, for instance, the topic should be researchable and the process of conducting research should be systematic. Additionally, the research article should incorporate previous work conducted by other researchers on the same topic which should also be acknowledged. A research article should also have a conceptual/ theoretical framework, population and sample, study design, methods of collecting data, procedures, data analysis, results, results interpretation, conclusions, and implications or recommendations to ensure it provides essential information to support the identified research problem. A research article Inpatient Pressure Ulcer Prevalence in an Acute Care Hospital Using Evidence-Based Practice by Beal and Smith (2016), is a significant start-point to comprehend its main strengthens, weaknesses, and applicability to the nursing profession by objectively reviewing it in a systematic manner by analyzing various components of a study writing.

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Beal and Smith (2016), were interested in efforts employed to prevent pressure ulcer at MaineGeneral Medical Center abbreviated as MGMC an infirmary situated in Augusta, Maine. Their article deliberates the prosperous procedures the hospital employed to attain and maintain the decrease in a yearly average of the hospice-acquired prevalence rate of pressure ulcer via evidence-centered approached. They formulated a title which was good and succinct since it addressed the study population and primary variables. Additionally, the title is the detailed and comprehensive title. It is required that for a detailed and comprehensive title of a research article, it should contain less than twenty-five words while addressing significant aspects of the literature work (Robson, 2002). Thus, in Inpatient Pressure Ulcer Prevalence in an Acute Care Hospital Using Evidence-Based Practice, the title contains only twelve words while addressing significant characteristics of a good research article (Beal & Smith, 2016). For example, it addresses aspects such as the target population which is all the patients from the acute care hospital affected by ulcers. Additionally, some variables can be extracted from the title such as patients affected by the pressure ulcer prevalence. Gender of the patient is also another variable which is evident from the title. Therefore, it can be concluded that the title is succinctly applied making it fit for research article purposes.

Abstract

The abstract in the research article should precisely and concisely address the key aspects of the report such a research problem, methods, and findings as well as conclusions. Beal and Smith (2016), in the abstract of their research article incorporated the problem statement, the purpose of the study, and methods for data collection. They also gave an overview of the results and conclusion of their study. However, they did not adopt a more concise and clear abstract that would provide a simple overview of the analysis and results focused on pressure ulcer prevalence. For instance, in the background of the abstract, the problem statement is far-fetched giving the audience of the article a hard time in interpreting and understanding it. Additionally, the methods used in the research should clearly connect the literature review and the analysis to be done. The retrospective study is precisely explained to ensure a clear understanding of the research article is provided. Additionally, by assessing the objectives, results, hypothesis, and conclusions of the research, it can be concluded that Beal and Smith (2016), provided a clear connection between these components. This is essential in facilitating its audience comprehend the primary research problem addressed.

Statement of the Problem

A good research problem should be clearly stated, easily identified, create a persuasive and cogent argument. According to Beal and Smith (2016), the cause of their research was the continued decrease of the pressure ulcer prevalence from 2004 to 2015. They wanted to know which processes the MGMC used to maintain a decrease in annual mean hospital-acquired pressure ulcer prevalence rate. Therefore, after carefully assessing the problem statement, it is clear that the authors stated it in a simple manner that every audience can easily comprehend. Additionally, for a problem statement to be cogent and persuasive, it must be accompanied by some reasonable and convincing evidence. In their article, Beal and Smith (2016), gave supporting evidence which makes the statement of problem persuasive. For instance, they indicated that the National Council on Disability Government Performance and Results Act established an objective whose aim was to curb the long-term care facility pressure ulcer prevalence rate Beal & Smith, 2016). Furthermore, Beal and Smith (2016), demonstrated that this problem was reducing yearly as it had reduced from a mean percentage of seven-point (7.8%) to a mean percentage of 1.4. Thus, at this juncture, the article can be seen having a cogent outlook of problem statement which is persuasive.

A good statement of the problem should have a significance to a particular profession. The target population in the Beal and Smith (2016), research article were patients with pressure ulcer prevalence. This a prevalence issues in the nursing profession. For instance, though preventing the occurrence of pressure ulcer, the undertaking will largely introduce a positive significance to the nursing profession. Nonetheless, the article by Beal and Smith (2016), did not provide the significance of their study to nursing. Therefore, the best method to use for such a case is a retrospective study where the outcome of interest is regarded to have occurred at the time when the study was being initiated. On the other hand, the statement problem was to control the pressure ulcer prevalence rate, a topic that is thoroughly addressed in the entire research article. Hence, it is evident that there is a good match between the research methods or paradigm and the research problem as well as the kind of data in their study. Therefore, it can be concluded that the quantitative approach was appropriate and efficient.

Hypothesis, Objectives, and Research Questions

A hypothesis is a statement or an assertion about the phenomenon or population distributions that only hold as true unless there is sufficient statistical evidence to conclude otherwise (Kim & Perron, (2009). Beal and Smith (2016), in their research article, did not explicitly state hypotheses. This is because it should be abbreviated as H or word hypothesis which is bolded then followed by the hypothesis statement. Consequently, this makes it vague to suggest or conclude that the hypotheses were appropriately worded. On the other hand, Beal and Smith (2016), though they have stated their aim, the objectives of their study are not well captured. This makes it hard for the audience to understand the primary research questions. Additionally, the research is based on past record; the objectives can be justified from the discussion part in a 2006 year-end goal Beal and Smith (2016. Therefore, the objectives may be not stated, but they can be justified from the discussion part of the article. Furthermore, from what is evident as the research question, it suggests that they were worded accordingly to answering the objectives as prescribed by the research variables. The study population that is, the patient of pressure ulcer prevalence in the Acute hospital is well indicated in the aims. Good research is one that connects all segments required to make or build an article. Therefore, in the literature review and the conceptual framework, the objectives as stated in the background and in the discussion segment reflects a consistent picture of the research problem. Therefore, it can be concluded that all parts of the research are interlinked with a common goal.

Literature Review

A good literature review should encompass recently and up to date scholarly articles, offer a state-of-the-art establishment of proof on the research problem as well as a strong framework for the new survey (Wicherts, Bakker & Molenaar, 2011). In their, Beal and Smith (2016) used scholarly articles published by others to support their research problem. The sources used were published latest in 2016 when they conducted their research. Hence, according to the time span at which they were carrying out their research and that of the sources in the literature review, it can could they scholarly articles used are up to date. Additionally, what gives research abroad and the concise result is the review of a state of the art creation of evidence based on the survey problem in question. In the article, Beal and Smith (2016), used nineteen references. However, even though this number is not big enough for a complete research paper, the review cannot be disregarded since citations and references were all bestowed. Additionally, from the references given, the literature review is from primary sources since the research was carried out was cited from published articles and the references were again given. Thus, for the new study, the literature review offers the information required to conduct the research.

Theoretical Framework

In the theoretical framework, the key aspects must be conceptually defined according to Gentles et al. (2015). In their research article, Beal and Smith (2016), states various scholarly articles from past up to date with citation various authors and referencing of their conceptual work. Moreover, there is a conceptual framework since the reviews have been arranged chronologically. This helps the researcher to easily identify the latest literature carried making it appropriate for the study.

Protection of Participants' Rights

Various organizations are involved in research to ensure that whatever the subjects are taking or conducting adhere to the rights of other individuals. In addition, Bodies like WTA and CWONs along with the clinical departments all take the initiative in assessing and reviewing patients in their units. Thus, making use of external bodies in this research. The patients undergoing the units are closely monitored which ensures that no extra damage is encountered during their treatment thus, minimizing the problem of pressure ulcer prevalence rate. Benefits are met by the patients willing to take on the practice hence, justifying that the way the study is designed, it minimizes various risks encountered by the patients while maximizing their benefits. Informed consent is a legal and an ethical requirement in which the participants have a chance to suggest whether they want to be involved in clinical treatment or not (Graf et al., 2007). In the article given by Beal and Smith (2016), the participants are not restricted to decide...