Nursing Article Critique

Nursing Article Critique

Statement of the Problem

The problem statement is not concisely, succinctly, clearly, and narrowly stated (with a subheading), meaning it is difficult to identify. However, a slight background study identifies the issues that African American cancer patients encounter as they transition from being called cancer patients to being labeled survivors. For example, in the ‘Background’ of the study, the researchers mention that cancer patients often experience a number of challenges after their cancer treatment plans elapse, especially as they prepare to re-enter the community as survivors. The loss of close medical attention not only heralds an end to social support initially provided by caregivers and providers but also predisposed them to a potential cancer relapse. As a result, chronic stressors can persist for extended periods among survivors, which stem from concerns about loss of follow-up from medical staff, disturbed body image, emotional distress, fear of cancer reoccurring, and the late side impacts from radiation, chemotherapy, as well as surgeries.

The problems associated with the switch from being a patient to a survivor are important to address for nursing practice because they epitomize the delivery of quality care for cancer patients, especially following their release from treatment centers. Understanding some of the concerns and issues faced by African Americans (especially women) during re-entry can form the basis for ensuring that cancer survivors from this vulnerable (and perhaps the worst hit and most impoverished) community live longer and high-quality lives after concluding their cancer therapies.

Research Questions and Hypothesis

For this study, it is evident that the researchers failed to clearly state the hypothesis statement. A hypothesis statement is defined by Polit & Beck (2018) as “a prediction, usually involving a predicted relationship between two or more variables.” According to the two authors, a qualitative study does not necessarily have to contain a formal hypothesis in the study. The main reason is perhaps that qualitative studies often attempt to design the investigation in such a manner that is guided by the respondents’ answers or viewpoints as opposed to their own intuitions and feelings.

However, the investigators have provided a research question that reads: “What is the experience of the transition from cancer patient to survivor in African American breast cancer patients?” From this research question and the background information highlighted, a potential hypothesis for the study could have read as: “We hypothesize that African American women experience/encounter emotional and physical problems, rely on faith and perseverance to overcome challenges, and require anticipatory guidance during treatment as they transition from being cancer patients to being called survivors.”

Although the hypothesis statement is not clearly identified in the study, its inclusion often serves an important purpose for the research. According to Polit & Beck (2018), a hypothesis suggests explanations and offers a sense of direction for the inquiry. Also, a hypothesis often tends to encourage critical thinking. Thus, without it, it means that the researcher(s) are automatically prepared to accept any type of results. Thus, a hypothesis lowers the risks of misconstruing spurious outcomes.

Therefore, because the study lacks a hypothesis (or hypotheses), the relationship between two or more variables is nearly impossible to predict. It is difficult to tell what experiences African American cancer patients experience as they transition from treatment (or being called patients) to survivors. However, based on the research question, it is possible to identify the dependent and independent variables. For instance, the independent variables are the African American cancer patients and African American cancer survivors, including their ages, heights, and other demographic data. The dependent variable is the experiences of these individuals as they re-enter from being cancer patients to survivors.

Review of the Literature

Despite having all the other ingredients of a good scientific study, this qualitative research lacks a comprehensive and adequate amount of background research (literature review) to form the basis of the research question as well as a problem statement. In fact, there is no section that is specifically designated for this purpose. Regardless, a slight ‘background’ analysis identifies the problem African American women with cancer face while they transition from being patients to survivors. In addition to the inadequate review of the literate, it provides supporting evidence to show the importance of carrying out the investigation. For example, in the last sentence of the background, the researchers state, “A gap in knowledge exists as to the effect that entering survivorship has specific to AA women, presenting a specific need for continued research and an impetus for the current study.”

However, it is important to note that the supporting evidence is not presented appropriately and in an organized manner to highlight this research gap. For example, whereas references have been highlighted, the names of the researchers and statistical figures have not been provided to back up the arguments. There is no empirical evidence to support the claims made by the researchers in the literature review. Regardless, the resources selected are relevant and well-documented both within the text and the bibliographic section. The last limitation of the study was a lack of a conceptual and theoretical framework. This should have been included because it significantly demonstrates what the research expects to achieve through inquiry. According to Adom, Hussein, & Adu-Agyem (2018), a theoretical/conceptual framework also maps out and defines the variables and how they might connect to each other.

References

Adom, D., Hussein, E. K., & Adu-Agyem, J. (2018). Theoretical and conceptual framework: Mandatory ingredients of quality research. International Journal of Scientific Research, 7(1), 438-441.

Mollica, M., & Nemeth, L. (2015). Transition from patient to survivor in African American breast cancer survivors. Cancer Nursing, 38(1), 16-22.

Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2018). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence from nursing research (9^th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

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Nursing Article Critique

Use the questions below to write a critique of your research article. Answer all questions that apply to the quantitative and/or qualitative study that you selected. Include 2-3 pages in the body, a title page and article citation (APA format) on the title page, and your reference page.

l. Statement of the Problem:

• Is the problem clearly and concisely stated?
• Is the problem stated in terms, which are specific and narrow enough to study?
• How is the problem important or significant for nursing practice?

II. Research Questions and Hypotheses:

• Are the hypotheses stated clearly?
• Do they contain a dependent and independent variable? If so, identify them.
• Do the hypotheses predict a relationship between two or more variables?

III. Review of Literature:

• Does the review have a significant amount of recent work?
• Does the review of the literature provide supporting evidence to show the need for carrying out the research?
• Are documentation and selection of sources appropriate?
• Is the review well organized?
• Does the article describe a theoretical or conceptual framework? If not, should one have been included

Includes a minimum of one reference from an English titled, peer-reviewed nursing journal (less than 5 years old), and one from the course textbook.

The paper must be in a narrative form in APA format and include a title and a reference page. Do not cite the article within the body of the paper. All other resources (such as the research textbooks) must be cited and referenced as usual.

When doing a research critique, it is acceptable to put the reference for the article on the bottom of the title page.

Text

• Title: Essentials of Nursing Research Appraising Evidence for Nursing Practice (See Attached)
• Author(s): Polit, D. F., & Beck C. T. (2018)
• Publisher: Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer
• Edition:9th
• ISBN: 9781496375636