Reading Research Literature Type 2 Diabetes and Clinical Practice

Answers to Questions

Fu, M., Hu, J., & Cai, X. (2015). Effectiveness of a community-based diabetes self-management intervention for Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes: A pilot study. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 21132-140 9p. doi:10.1111/ijn.12373

1. Primarily, the study determines the effectiveness of self-management and interventions among Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes (Fu, Hu, and Cai, 2015).
2. What is the effectiveness of diabetes education program in managing type – 2 diabetes in older patients in China?
3. The research design used is a quasi-experimental study which focused on one group time series. During this study, researchers selected participants from a community health center and exposed them to an educational program with a follow – up for one month (Fu, Hu, and Cai, 2015).
4. The sample population consists of 39 adults who have diabetes. The inclusion criterion consisted of age, the level of literacy, and those who are not attending any educational program for diabetes (Fu, Hu, and Cai, 2015).
5. The sample used was adequate for the research design because the results collected from the participants were relevant and met the objectives of the study.
6.  Data collection methods include anthropometric measures such as waist circumference, BMI, blood pressure, and FBG (Fu, Hu and Cai, 2015). Besides, questionnaires were used. The questionnaires were divided into demographic data questionnaire, diabetes knowledge questionnaire, and diabetes self-care activities questionnaire.
7. Data was statistically analyzed in line with the type of variables. For a categorical variable, frequency and percentages were used while for continuous variables, means and standard deviations were used.
8.  The first limitation is that the study did not impact significantly on self-monitoring of critical body parameters for example; blood glucose, blood pressure and BMI (Fu, Hu, and Cai, 2015). Second, the study did not evaluate HbA1C. Third, the absence of a control group limit that could be used to draw conclusions about the effects of the education program. Lastly, the one-month follow-up duration was not adequate.
9. The author encourages the application of group education to improve diabetes knowledge among the diagnosed and undiagnosed individuals.
10. The study dictates some of the measures that should be taken during treatment and management of type 2 diabetes. It also encourages the use of group education as it proved to be efficient and less expensive.

Pals, R. S., Hansen, U. M., Johansen, C. B., Hansen, C. S., Jørgensen, M. E., Fleischer, J., & Willaing, I. (2015). Making sense of a new technology in clinical practice: a qualitative study of patient and physician perspectives. BMC Health Services Research, 15(1), 1-10. doi:10.1186/s12913-015-1071-1

1. The main purpose of the study is to identify ways in which new technologies can be used in the clinical practice by physicians and patients (Pals et al., 2015).
2. What is the perspective of physicians and patients on the application of CAN detection technologies in a diabetes clinic?
3. It is an experimental research design based on clinical trials.
4. The population sample consists of patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN). The population was recruited either through the personal approach and phone calls based on data from the EPR.  Besides, the study included physicians. They were recruited based on the level of clinical experience and their frequency of giving back feedback to patients.
5. The population sample was inadequate because it led to unreliable results. For instance, many respondents failed to recall crucial details about their past tests leading to biased results.
6. Data collection took a span of three consecutive months from November to January. It was done when the patients came for consultations where they received their results. The patients’ coordinator identified patients. Then, a collection of data involved several approaches. They include; observation of medical consultation results of the patient receiving CAN test, interviewing of patients who had received the CAN test and also interviewing the physicians who were carrying out the CAN test.
7. All of the data was analyzed using content analysis to infer the physicians’ and patients’ intentions and interpretations systematically (Pals et al., 2015). Data examination was carried out in four steps which include separating the data into statements and actions of doctors and patients respectively, sorting the data into categories,  comparison of the data groups and recording the data using the proposed themes.
8. Lack of adequate population sample; thus, the results are less insightful. Difficulty in identifying the three central concepts that are substantially intertwined. Finally, there was no comparison the technology with existing technologies, which the hospital has used for many years (Pals et al., 2015).
9.   The authors base their conclusions on the data collected. According to the research, the physicians found the new technology had challenges of communicating the test results to the patient while patients, on the other hand, were not sure of the test results. Due to the loss of communication between the patient and physicians, physicians are advised to use a dialogue based approach when communicating the test results. The conclusion made relies on the data collected.
10.  The information improves the quality of services delivered and patient’s outcomes. The findings reveal a gap existing between patients’ level of understanding and the use of CAN technologies to access quality care.