Home-Based Training Intervention in Heart Failure
The evidence base article under critique is titled ‘Home Based Nurse-Coached Inspiration Muscle Training Intervention in Heart Failure’. The research study presented in this article sought to determine the effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) on patients who suffer from Heart Failure (HF). This topic is of critical importance to the nursing practice especially in the modern world where HT has been rising at an alarming rate and claiming lives. Evidently, Heart Failure has affected about five million people across USA (Padula, Yeaw & Mistry, 2009). In addition, it is evident that Heart Failure is one of the most significant and leading causative agents of repeated hospitalization. This implies that Heart Failure is a significant challenge that nurses should seek to alleviate or mitigate. In this light, therefore, the findings of this research are very important to the profession because they offer a relevant and applicable solution to the rising problem.
The statement of the research problem was presented in an essentially detailed and informative manner. When presenting the problem, the authors used empirical data to show the devastating effects of the Heart Failure in USA. In this case, they noted that about 5 million people suffer from Heart Failure in the country. However, the authors did not use empirical data exhaustively because they did not support the claim which suggested that HT is the leading cause of repeated patients’ hospitalization. In principle, it would be appropriate support the claim with empirical data besides providing the citation. In addition to the provision of empirical data, when presenting the problem, the authors made a structuring mistake because they did not place the problem under a distinct title. In principle, it is important to describe the problem under a distinct title in order to have an organized and an easy-to-follow research study. When it comes to the statement of purpose, however, the authors have presented it perfectly. In this case, they presented the overall, primary and secondary objectives clearly. As a result, the readers can understand the particular focus of the research and the broader concern of the study.
When it comes to the statement of the research question, there is a critical inconsistency with the objectives and the research problem. In this regard, the research question seeks to inquire into whether the use of IMT is more effective than the use of educational comparison group. However, the problem statement does not indicate an existing difficulty to determine which more is more effective between the two. In the same light, the purpose statement does not show the intentions to conduct a comparative study.
Despite the slight inconsistency in the research question, the review of literature was relevant, deep, and empirical. Its relevance was facilitated by focusing on the variable which were raised by the purpose statement including IMT, HF and the relationship between the two. Indeed, the authors explored literature from the three perspectives so that it was very relevant to the research purpose. However, they did not state the identified gap after the literature review in order to conduct a research and close it. Additionally, it methodology has been presented in an essentially detailed manner but the structuring is very poor. This is based on the fact that all the information concerning the population, research variable, and validity have been presented under research design. Appropriately, the different parts of the method should be presented under separate titles to ease comprehension because arrangement is very crucial in a research presentation.
The analysis was evidently perfect because it was empirical and aligned to the research objectives. Importantly, the research results were presented in form of table in the articles in order to facilitate easy reference to them and maintain order. After the presentation of results and analysis, the research proceeded to discuss the findings. The discussion was thorough based on the fact that it revolved around the measured research variables. Further, the resolution presented in the discussion part elevates the use of EBP because it shows that the evidence-based practice can be used to determine the suitable diagnoses of a clinical problem using a comparative empirical study.
The most admirable factor of the discussion was the fact that it proceeded to show how the study findings can be used in clinical applications. However, the research article did not end with a formal summary and conclusion but it included suggestive conclusion components such as limitations and recommendations. Despite this, the conclusion and summary should have been included in the article in order to provide an overview description of the research process and findings.
In conclusion, the research article has been presented in a substantially holistic manner. In this light, it contains the required components of a research study including the research problem, purpose, and findings among others. However, it requires critical improvements to ensure consistency of the research question with the objectives, the identification of the research gap, and the inclusion of the summary as well as the conclusion.
Reference
Padula, C., Yeaw, E., & Mistry, S. (2009). Home Based Nurse-Coached Inspiration Muscle Training Intervention in Heart Failure. Applied Nursing Research, 22(1), 18-25.