Critique a Research Study Essay

The nursing research study I chose at the beginning of the semester was Impact of health literacy and patient trust on glycemic control in an urban USA population. The research article begins with a description of Diabetes, its consequences of the disease process, complications, economic cost, and the public health crisis that is foreseen over the next few decades. Research has shown that improvement of glycosylated hemoglobin concentration (HbA1c) in diabetics can have a significant positive impact on this impending critical condition. The second component of the article evaluates the impact health literacy and patient trust has on controlling and maintaining glycemic control in diabetics. The purpose of this article was to research a â€Å"quantitative study conducted to examine health literacy and patient trust as predictors of glycemic control (Mancuso, 2010)†. I believe the credibility of the research article was trustworthy, based on the research topics evaluated that are known in medicine to be accurate and valid. As a nurse, I am well aware of the impact health literacy and patient trust effect disease process and glycemic control. The research sample size evaluated by the article included one hundred and two participants with diabetes selected from two urban primary care clinics in the United States. Although I believe the sample size could’ve been larger, the final conclusions of health literacy and patient trust showed how important those factors are in influencing glycemic control. According to Polit, the presumed cause is the independent variable, and the presumed effect is the dependent or outcome variable (Polit & Beck, 2014, p. 43)†. The Quantitative type of research design used in this study was Non-experimental/Observational study on the effects of health literacy and trust on glycemic control. â€Å"When researchers study the effect of a cause they cannot manipulate, they design correlation studies that examine relationships between variables. Correlation studies can be detected through statistical analysis ((Polit & Beck, 2014, p. 159)†. The independent variables consisted of health literacy, patient trust, knowledge of diabetes, performance of self-care activities, and depression. These variables were measured with testing at the beginning of the study that yielded statistical results used to associate between variables. The dependent variable was the Hemoglobin A1c. Often the dependent variable can have multiple causes, which are examined in the article. The study also considered other related factors such as: demographics, socio-economic status, diabetes knowledge, self-care activities, and depression. I would categorize these variables with health literacy and patient trust as independent variables. The variation of factors can have a significant influence on the final outcome of HbA1c. This is the reason that research is essential for diabetes, to determine the influence these factors have on glycemic control. Evidenced-based interventions and approaches to improving glycemic control in the US population will help improve the current health crisis this country is facing, and will continue to face in the decades to come. â€Å"This was a cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes, utilizing several survey instruments and data sources (Mancuso, 2010)†. These 102 participants with diabetes were chosen from two free primary care clinics in the U. S. that met the criteria for the study. Reading comprehension test, scales, and screening through the use of surveys examined the independent variables. Testing for Hemoglobin A1c, a blood test, was conducted every six months to measure glycemic control for research purposes. I believe the design was appropriate because it was particular on the types of participants used for the study and factors that influenced the outcome according to the research article. Regardless of the level of participants, results of the study based its findings on the needs of the diabetic population. One of the strengths I identified early on in the research article was the research design chosen to evaluate glycemic control. The cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes utilized several survey instruments and data sources. The framework of the study helped to assess and predict the relationships between variables. Second, I felt the methods used to gather data was appropriate and beneficial to the research study. The data received was sufficient enough to research and observe. Finally, another strength I identified in the article was its reliability that correlated to Evidenced-Based data that guides clinical practice in nursing today. The final findings of the article support that the data collected and examined would help patient’s outcomes on increasing their glycemic control. Distinct weakness in the research study I identified first was the size of the sample that was chosen. With only one hundred and two participants from two different clinics, I felt that the sample size could have been more effective with larger numbers studied and in more areas of the country. The study also identified the recruited participants were from an uninsured population and identified the groups to have poor glycemic control. I believe the research study should have had a more diverse population of patients that would demonstrate how the US really is. Finally, the research article was evaluating health literacy; I believe that most patients who are illiterate would have been reluctant to participate in the study for fear of judgment and humiliation, thus not portraying the most accurate recruits. Evidenced-Based research is an essential component for the continual evolution of professional nursing practice. Research provides us with a solid foundation to ensure that nursing practice and interventions are based on scientific principles that have been proven to be effective. As professional nurses, we should strive to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. Through nursing research, we can expand our nursing knowledge and development to deliver healthcare based on guided research decision-making. In studying my research article, I believe that the strengths outweighed the weaknesses because the findings did correlate with Evidence-Based practice already known. After critiquing the research article, I support its findings on health literacy and glycemic control; they definitely contribute to Evidence-Based practice that should be implemented in nursing practice. Diabetes is a major health problem in the United States and also a major risk factor for other types of disease processes related to it. Health literacy, the ability to read, comprehend and comply with medical instructions is directly related to improved glycemic control. The research article I have chosen reflect the effects between health literacy and glycemic control in the United States population. Conclusions from the articles emphasize the need to communicate and educate patients effectively with low health literacy. As an emergency room, healthcare teaching plays an important role when discharging patients home with the correct information and education to manage their symptoms and disease processes. This research article applies to my nursing practice by pointing out the need to assess health literacy in-patient’s sent home or admitted with Diabetes. When we can determine that health literacy impacts glycemic control, we can take measures to help patient’s maintain their diabetes effectively. By understanding the relationship between education and health care outcomes, nursing can make a significant impact through effectively assessing the needs to provide adequate healthcare teaching. References Mancuso, J. (2010). Impact of health literacy and patient trust on glycemic control in an urban USA population. Nursing & Health Sciences, 12(1), 94-104. doi:10. 1111/j. 1442- 2018. 2009. 00506. x Polit, D. F. , & Beck, C. T. (2014). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health /Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.