Literature review of a study involves both qualitative and quantitative sources. This paper conducts a critical appraisal of a qualitative study that will be used in a study on information gaps during transition in care in emergency care. The article to be reviewed is titled, Clinical handover of patients arriving by ambulance to a hospital emergency department: A qualitative study by Nerolie Bost, Julia Crilly, Elizabeth Patterson, and Wendy Chaboyer. The article investigated the handover process between prehospital and emergency department. The study aimed at identifying various factors that contribute to gaps in information transfer and then develop strategies that will help in improvement of the process.
Type of Qualitative Research
The researchers utilized an ethnographic approach to conduct the study. It involved the researchers studying the environment of emergency department for a period of time for them to identify factors that contribute to gaps in communication during handover. Data collection was conducted for seven months (Bost, Crilly, Patterson, & Chaboyer, 2012).
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Validity of the Results
The results of the research are valid and trustworthy. The researchers utilized data collection instruments that included observation and interviews. The instruments were tested through pilot studies to ensure that they collect information that is desired (Houser, 2016). The study utilized an experienced nurse in the collection of data.
Choosing of Participants
The participants that were included in the study were ambulance paramedics, nurses, as well as medical practitioners that were drawn from the ambulance service and a big regional medical facility in Queensland, Australia (Bost, Crilly, Patterson, & Chaboyer, 2012). The researchers utilized purposive sampling in selecting the participants.
Accuracy and Completeness of Data
The researchers assured accuracy and completeness of data by selecting one researcher, and experienced nurse who did the observations and conducted the interviews. Data was collected for an extended period of seven months. They were taken through a process of concurrent analysis and interpretation to facilitate establishment of repeated patterns of behavior and make interview data apparent.
Plausibility of the Results
The results of the study are believable because the researchers utilized all the essential steps required in completing a qualitative study. The data collection instruments were pretested to ensure that they facilitate collection of relevant data. Data was also collected for a period of seven moths until repeated patterns of behavior were established.
Stating of implications of the Study
The implications of the study to nursing practice are stated in the conclusions section. The researchers provide inter-professional education can help in developing strong information transfer structure and teamwork skills that will improve the transition process.
New Insights and Sensitivity
New insights such as inter-professional education will help in increasing the sensitivity of nurses to patient needs thus improving the transition process.
Understanding and Situational Competence
The study recognizes the importance of understanding in improving situational context, Knowledge of the factors that affect information transfer and subsequent inter-professional education will increase communication competence thus reducing adverse effects.
Effect on the Reader
The research helps the reader to understand the factors that affect the communication process during transition in care in emergency department. The readers also learn various intervention strategies that can be used to improve transfer of information in emergency departments. The researchers have succeeded to imaginatively draw the reader to the study.
Results of the Study
The study established that the handover process in the emergency department is reduced in quality as a result of inactive listening as well as lack of access to written information.
Research Approach and purpose of the study
The research approach fits the purpose of study perfectly. The researchers utilized a focused ethnography method to investigate factors that have an effect on information transfer in handover process. The researchers utilized observation and interview methods as data collection instruments. The study approach allowed collection of data for an extended period thus establishing repeated pattern of behavior that were necessary to answer the research questions.
Identification of Study Approach
The researchers identify the study approach by mentioning it in the methodology section. The study approach helped in investigating the handover process in emergency department.
Data Collection and Analysis Techniques
The researchers utilized SPSS computer to summarize the demographic details of the participants. The researchers were guided by Grounded theory in conducting analysis of data gathered from observational and interview methods. Coding of the collected data was done and common themes established. The data collection method was appropriate for the research.
Is the Significance Explicit?
The significance of the study is explicitly stated in the conclusion part of the study. It will help in improving the handover process by handling factors that hinder effective and efficient transfer of information. It will subsequently reduce adverse effects both to patients and healthcare practitioners.
Appropriateness of Literature
The literature reviewed indicates that there is need to conduct a research to help in understanding the processes that surround handover of content and the factors that have an impact on the communication process. The literature is appropriate because it helps in pointing to the areas that are lacking in terms of research concerning information transfer.
Potential Contribution of the Study
The study is important since it helps in the identification of factors that have an effect on the communication process such as inaccessibility of written information and lack of active listening. It then proposes intervention strategies that help in improving information transfer. The study will help in reducing adverse effects in the emergency department (Perry, 2006).
Sampling process
The sampling process of the research is clear and is guided by the needs of the research. Participants are drawn from the ambulance stations and the emergency department. The sample of the ambulance service was 79 paramedics while the emergency department personnel were made up of 65 nurses and 9 doctors (Bost, Crilly, Patterson, & Chaboyer, 2012).
References
Bost, N., Crilly, J., Patterson, E., & Chaboyer, W. (2012). Clinical handover of patients arriving by ambulance to a hospital emergency department: a qualitative study. International Emergency Nursing , 20 (3), 133-141.
Houser, J. (2016). Nursing research: Reading, using and creating evidence . Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Perry, S. (2006). Transitions in care: studying safety in emergency department signovers. Focus Patient Safety. 2004; 7: 1-3.
