Critique Template for a Qualitative Study

Body

Research Issue and Purpose

The research issue is: how can infections within a healthcare setting be controlled? The research has been designed such that the research question is answered through the findings developed from the research material. The researchers have collected substantial amounts of evidence to show the significance of washing hands within hospitals.

Researcher Pre-understandings

The research precisely identifies that hospital infections are rampant in various hospitals in the world. Their presence in the institutions has been promoted by the fact that the facilities have poor hand washing strategies. Nurses, physicians and other workers within medical facilities have been reported to have few rates of washing their hands.

Literature Review

The material has conducted a proper literature review. The researchers identify that there is a significant amount of literature that provides evidence on the effectiveness of the application of hand washing techniques within hospitals. From the findings, the researchers have managed to compile the material in a table that shows their analyses of the contents of the research material.

Theoretical or Conceptual Framework

Infections can be adequately controlled through hand washing. The method helps in preventing cross-transmission and saves of treatment costs. More research needs to be conducted to identify other ways of improving hand washing as an infection control strategy.

Participants

The researchers developed their findings from previous reliable investigations conducted between 1977 and 2008.  A majority of the surveys were done in neonatal or adult intensive care units which introduced alcohol-based hand rubs. The material has been critically analyzed. The sources of information that were found with weaknesses have been identified and the sources of their unreliability identified.

Protection of Human Research Participants

The qualitative research does not directly interact with participants. Instead, the researchers have collected information from credible sources and analyzed them to develop points on the effectiveness of controlling infection rates within hospitals through hand washing strategies. Allegranzi, & Pittet (2009) have provided adequate references to the material that they have chosen.

Research Design

The researchers have adopted a narrative research design. The method has facilitated an analysis of previous research on material that is significant to the research topic.

Data Collection/Generation Methods

Data was collected through analytical methods. Sources of credible information were keenly selected and their contents used, to develop the findings of the qualitative research.

Credibility

The generated data is credible. The credibility of the information lies from the fact that each of the selected sources of information had conducted an investigation within a hospital setting that has varied participants and variables. Hence, with a diverse database, reliable data was developed.

Data Analysis 

The collected data was analyzed critically through summaries and description. The method is useful as it has promoted the achievement of the goals of the research.

Findings

Allegranzi & Pittet (2009) identify that infection control can be effectively achieved through appropriate hand washing strategies. Compliance with hand washing policies can effectively help in reducing high rates of the transmission of diseases within hospital settings. Further, the researchers identify that hand washing policies can be effectively adopted through education programs that create awareness on the significance of hand washing. More research should also be encouraged so that better methods of infection control are developed.

Discussion of Findings

The developed findings match with the purposes of the study. Alcohol-based hand rubs have been identified as an appropriate method that significantly reduced the rates of infection within a health facility. However, the technique has been criticized since it is expensive and hence its implementation may be a challenge within hospitals. Washing hands with water and soap have been identified as a cheaper but a less effective infection control method.

Limitations

The researchers identify that there has been a limited pool of data that addresses the compliance rates of hand hygiene policies within hospitals. The limitation has negatively influenced the findings of the research.

Implications

Hospitals need to adopt proper hand washing policies to improve the quality of their services. Alcohol-based hand hygiene products should be used in cleaning the hands of medical practitioners.

Recommendations

The researchers recommend that more studies should be launched to expand data on the research problem. The reviews should focus on improving the effectiveness of hand washing elements.

Research Utilization in Your Practice

The findings of the research can be readily applied in the field of nursing. Nurses should regularly ensure that they keep their hands free from germs and other disease-causing pathogens. Further, the professionals need to be at the forefront of encouraging the spread of information on the significance of washing their hands in health institutions across the globe.