Data collection methods Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Data collection methods - Assignment Example The authors prescribed and used a three group repeated measure design. The study was done on groups of consenting patients receiving home care from a non profit hospice. The care givers chosen were subjected to experimental training in the COPE (acronym creativity, optimism, planning, and expert information) intervention, on symptoms management. Instruments used were the numeric rating scale. NRS was used to measure the intensity of pain with zero representing no pain gradually increasing to ten that represents the worst or most intense pain. The dyspnea intensity scale was used to rate the intensity of dyspnea on a (0-10) scale. The constipation assessment scale, which is an eight item, three point that is - patients describe their states no problem, some problem and severer problem, summated rating scale whose function is to detect the presence of constipation and subsequently measure its intensity. The memorial symptom assessment scale (MSAS) that measures the distress caused by a symptom. The last instrument is the Hospice Index Quality-Of-Life Index HQLI. The NRS was found to be reliable; this was ascertained by comparing its results with those found by using other scales such as the visual analogue scale, the box scale, verbal rating scale and a four point and five-point verbal rating scale. It was found that there were similar results in the number of subjects who responded correctly therefore supporting the predictive validity of each measure. The validity of the dyspnea scale was based on the opinions of previous scholars, (McCord and Cronin-Stubbs 1992; Silvestri & Mahler). As for the constipation assessment scale, the authors rated this instrument as sensitive and reliable, owing to the test retest that provided a brief delay that was seen as a strong evidence of reliability. (MSAS) was rated as valid by the authors because of its high correlations with clinical status and QOL. The Hospice Index Quality-Of-Life Index was rated as valid because of its ability to differentiate between hospice patients and apparently healthy controls. 3) Â   Â   Â  What limitations did the authors face in data collection? How could these have been lessened or minimized? Challenges faced in data collection included the study was conducted on a hospice population and therefore there was slow accrual and high attrition. Another factor is that they had a small sample and therefore could not conduct model testing. 4) Â   Â   Â  What demographic information was reported? Demographic information includes the age of the participants. The level of education the participants had attained and in terms of in years. The genders of the participants whether they were male or female. 5) Â   Â   Â  What were the variables that were studied? The variables tested include the intensity of pain, constipation, QOL , symptoms distress and dyspnea. 6) Â   Â   Â  Did there exist any inferential tests used in the scrutiny of raw data in this study? If so, what were they? There were inferential tests. This were based on the findings of bodies such as the national hospice and palliative care organization (2005), the findings mirrored those of the author for instance; close to 63% of patients are 75 years and older and therefore don’t last long, they die shortly after joining the hospice. 7) Â   Â   Â  Discuss the use of any figures, graphs and tables. Was the information conveyed in an understandable and meaningful way? The author has used a flow chat giving the detailed progress of the dyads in the study. The chat is clear and straight to the point. The author has also used a graph indicating the progress of the patients in response to the cope intervention and the progress of those who were receiving standard care and support, the graph is clear