401011 Research Principles For Nursing And Midwifery
Question:
5. Data analysis/results
Answer:
1. Background of the study
1.1 Issue on which the study is focused
The condition of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) affects a huge population in the society today. Yet, the providers of health services have not been successful in providing the necessary care. This can be associated with theories that are so far outdated or diagnostic systems that do not show the complexity of the health system of a patient. According to Lidén, Björk-Brämberg and Svensson (2015), lack of cure as a result of lacking medical explanation leaves both the patient and the health care provider unsatisfied. The study thus aims at explaining how the patients and victims of MUS adapt to live with the condition and struggles to get the meaning in a life that is changed due to the health situation.
1.2 Significance of the Study
The study is significant because it has emphasized on the need for health care providers to give personalized attention and approach to every patient with MUS. This is because the patients are occurring in a heterogeneous way. It shows the significance of being attentive to patients’ needs and emotions so as to make proper interpretations of their life and health situation (Lidén, Björk-Brämberg and Svensson, 2015). The study shows that is patients need to be trusted with the information they provide in hospitals. This is to ensure that their request is not reject due to lack of moral esteem. The study is important because it focused on resources and possibilities for patient’s well-being like it has been reported by those who have previously suffered from MUS. The study describes and interprets the patients’ experiences of learning to live with MUS. This is according to the narrations made by patients in their primary healthcare settings.
2. Overview of the research design
2.1 Aim of the Research
The research aimed at describing and interpreting the experiences of patients that are learning to live with MUS. The study would be conducted after interviewing some of the patients aged 21-61 years on their experiences and how they felt life like orphans of medication, neglected and unsatisfied. Further, the study also aimed at showing heath care providers the importance of trusting their patients as they narrate their stories (Lowth, 2015). Giving attention to the patients would be a good way of getting rid of MUS patients. Health care providers would be required to make the proper interpretation would leave the patients satisfied with their status.
2.2 Research Design and whether it was appropriate
The study used a phenomenological-hermeneutic research design. This included performance of narrative interviews when enquiring from the patients suffering from MUS. The interviews were performed from 10 patients between the ages of 24-61 years who had an MUS narrative. Later, data collected was analyzed using some three elaborate steps; comprehensive analysis, naïve reading as well as structural analysis (Price, 2012). It was definitely the most appropriate research design to be used. This is because phenomenological research design gives a detailed and rich description of the human experience in question. In this case, the researchers were able to closely examine the interview of the patients. They listened to the narratives the victims of MUS. It would have been difficult for the researcher to understand deeply if they would have handed out a quick survey to the patients. Phonological research design was appropriate because it even allows the re-interviewing of the patients again to get a clear picture of what was happening.
3. Sampling
3.1 Study Participants
Participants were identified by screening incoming calls form the patients calling in the healthcare center. Identification of the participants was carried out by the secretarial service. The patients who were legible for the research were later contacted by a member of the research team. The patients were later asked in the same way whether they were willing to take part in the ongoing research (Lidén, Björk-Brämberg and Svensson, 2015). A total of 10 patients among them, seven women and three men agreed to participate in the study. The participants were aged between the ages of 24-61.
3.2 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria of the Sample
The study sample included both native citizen and immigrants. Women and men were both incorporated in the study provided they had the MUS experience and they agreed to take part in the research (Lidén, Björk-Brämberg and Svensson, 2015). However, the study excluded participants who were below the age of 24 or above the age of 61 years.
3.3 Importance having the Criteria identified before Recruitment
It is important to have the criteria chosen before recruiting because it would avoid confusing the participants. The secretarial service clearly understood what exactly they were looking for in a participant (Den Boeft, 2016). The criterion was supposed to represent patients from different ethnic groups, ages and sex.
3.4 The Sampling Technique used
The sampling technique was purposive. The participants were chosen via calls by screening the patients’ calls. The sampling technique selected people basing on a specified purpose of the research (Den Boeft, 2016). In this research the participants were selected based on their experience in MUS.
3.5 Whether the Research Design was appropriate
The technique allowed the researchers to fulfill their purpose as they selected a particular member to narrate the experiences that the patents had with MUS (Lidén, Björk-Brämberg and Svensson, 2015). Therefore, the technique was appropriate for this study.
3.6 How the Sample Size was Determined
The sample size depended on the number of participants that agreed to take part in the research. Each researcher contacted the callers and asked them if they would like to participate in the study (Den Boeft, 2016). Only the patients who agreed to be interviewed were recruited. It was appropriate because it made sure only the patients that were willing to participate were engage. Better results are always achieved when an individual does something out of good will.
4. Data collection
4.1 How data was collected
Information was collected through structured interviews that the participants had the privilege of choosing the venue at their own time. The participants opted for one opted public library, another one wanted to be interviewed at the health center three at the university and five in their own homes. The interviews were conducted in a span of 21-80 minutes (Lowth, 2015). Data was audio-recorded using digital devices. The researcher explained that they had not read any of their medical information. Open-ended questions were asked after the participants introduced themselves briefly.
4.2 Whether the Data Collection Methods were Appropriate for the Study Question and the Research Design
Interviews as a way of collecting data was useful in making the researcher understand the insights and experiences of the patients of MUS. First, by making sure the patients’ information was safe helped to put the participant at ease. The patients were able to introduce themselves and talk about their MUS experiences (Den Boeft, 2016). This helped in achieving the objective of the study. The data collection method was appropriate because setting open-ended questions enabled the participants to have a lengthy explanation. The participants had more time of between 21-80 minutes to talk about their experiences.
4.3 Definition of Rigor and Measures taken to Ensure Rigor
Rigor is transferability, credibility, conformability and dependability (Den Boeft, 2016). There were two measures that were taken to ensure there was credibility and dependability in the study were; specific inclusion of different ages, sex and ethnic groups of participants. This showed that the information was credible as all those factors were incorporated The other thing that shows credibility is the fact that the audio recorded data was transcribed and read severally to make sure the proper concept was grasped from the information.
5. Data analysis and results
5.1 Methods of Data Analysis and whether they were appropriate
Inductive approach of analyzing data was used in development of themes from the study. Inductive approach of analyzing data is especially significant in qualitative researches. Two different types of interpretation were used in the process of inductive analysis (Weiland, 2015). The data collected was transcribed, read and re-read to understand the main themes. The identified themes were elaborated in different ways. Names were given to them in order to discover the main points.
5.2 Findings
The findings involved narratives comprising of the participants’ reflections, experiences and actions from when their symptoms started. Naïve understanding was classified as one where participants learnt to live with MUS after opportunities in their lives were shuttered. It is where the participants reflected on how their lives used to be (Lowth, 2015). The results gave a learning process that was represented in two themes. The participants felt that the symptoms were taking over their lives. The second theme was that the patients gained insights and moved with their lives. The theme was based on another sub-theme explaining of how patients looked for explanations. Obstacles and possibilities on a person and the structural level were brought into focus for promotion of patients’ learning and capacity.
5.3 Whether the Study Findings can be used in Other Settings
The study findings could be used in any other settings because the outcomes received are important in educating the healthcare providers. This would be by showing them the importance of listening to the patients’ narratives to understand the real problem (Weiland, 2015). This would in turn get rid of MUS.
6. Evidence utilization
6.1 Whether I would recommend the Findings of the Study in Clinical Practice
In future, I would recommend the use of such information. This is because patients suffering from MUS engage in a reflective process of how to explaining and interpreting their symptoms. The effort to describe their symptoms to healthcare providers is part of searching for answers (Weiland, 2015). The findings would therefore enable the healthcare providers now and in the future care for the patients through the interpretative and acknowledgment process.
References:
Den Boeft, M., Huisman, D., van der Wouden, J. C., Numans, M. E., van der Horst, H. E., Lucassen, P. L., & Hartman, T. o. (2016). Recognition of patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms by family physicians: results of a focus group study. BMC Family Practice, 171-9. doi:10.1186/s12875-016-0451-x
Lidén, E., Björk-Brämberg, E., & Svensson, S. (2015). The meaning of learning to live with medically unexplained symptoms as narrated by patients in primary care: A phenomenological–hermeneutic study. International Journal Of Qualitative Studies On Health And Well-Being, 10(1), 27191. https://dx.doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v10.27191
Lowth, M. (2015). Medically Unexplained Symptoms. Practice Nurse, 45(2), 36-40.
Price, J. (2012). Medically unexplained physical symptoms. Medicine, 40(12), 644-646. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mpmed.2012.09.019
Weiland, A., Blankenstein, A. H., Van Saase, J. M., Van der Molen, H. T., Jacobs, M. E., Abels, D. C., & … Arends, L. R. (2015). Training Medical Specialists to Communicate Better with Patients with Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms (MUPS). A Randomized, Controlled Trial. Plos ONE, 10(9), 1-12. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0138342
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