This paper aims at critically appraising a quantitative peer-reviewed article in the field of public health. The critique comprises of major sections such as tool selection, critical appraisal of the research method, data analysis and discussions, ethical considerations and a summary of the critique.
2.0 Tool Selection
The selected tool for quantitative critiquing was freely found in the internet and is from Flinders University (Student Learning Centre, 2012). The researcher preferred this critique tool because of its systematic way of reviewing each section of a quantitative research. The language used in providing the critiquing is simple and easy to comprehend. Furthermore, the critique tool first provides introductions to each section as to what the section is expected to communicate and then goes ahead to provide specific questions to guide in the critique.
3.0 Critical appraisal
3.1 Abstract
The abstract section of the paper provides a succinct summary of the article contents and the information is sufficient as it provides necessary information on the study. For instance, the abstract provides the purpose of the study, the design, findings and conclusions.
3.2 The Introduction
The researchers provide a concise development of the study background by providing a firm sense of what was carried out in the study. The objective and rationale of the study has clearly been provided in addition to the provision of the justification for the research problem, thus making the research problem researchable.
3.3 The Literature Review
The literature review section is brief but provides an overview of extant literature focused on the research problem. The authors provide historical and contemporary references in the context of the research settings. For instance, a survey previously conducted in Victoria on senior health service managers is examined (Howard, Liang, and Fitzgerald, 2009), in addition to the findings of other articles relevant to the study topic (Liang, Howard, and Wollersheim, 2017, p.17).
However, the literature review section does not fairly provide opposing views and doesn’t use a theoretical framework. The study shows knowledge gap that it intends to fill which is develop a proper understanding of the present competence of health service managers prior to designing training and development strategies; an assertion that is premised on the study by Kong (2013).
3.4 The Aim
The study purpose is clearly stated and is focused to a specific idea. The study aims at examining the competence of evidence informed decision-making amongst health service managers.
3.5 The Research Design
The study adopted a case-study based objective assessment and a 360 degrees subjective assessment approaches to test the capability of the managers in applying EIDM. A rationale for the use of the research approaches has been based on the definition of evidence-based management as reviewed in the literature (Reay, Berta, and Kohn, 2009; Briner, Denyer, and Rousseau, 2009) which is in agreement with the elements of the research designs. The research method is appropriate for the research questions since it tests the competency level of the mid-level health service managers in EIDM alongside their behaviours that have an impact on the individuals and organization. This also implies that the collected data was appropriate to the research problem as well.
The participants’ information that was appropriate for the study has been provided in addition to the ethical considerations. Confidentiality of the respondents/colleagues was achieved using a combined colleagues’ outcomes because with this technique it would be impossible to determine each respondent’s contribution. Moreover, the study obtained its ethical approval from La Trobe University before the commencement of the study (Liang, Howard, and Wollersheim, 2017, p.17)
The study provides a brief description of the methods used. For instance, fifteen questions associated with the case study were formulated and addressed various behavioural items associated with elements of EIDM. The evaluation was accomplished through a web-based platform and a seven-point Likert scale used to grade the competency level. The method can be considered reliable and valid because attempts were made to minimise any entry errors by restricting the numerical feedbacks to each question and the labelling the unmarked questions as missing. Furthermore, the study used a 7 point Likert scale to grade the competency levels and the definition of each scale provided page (Liang, Howard, and Wollersheim, 2017, p.17).
The study had different limitations. The respondents were volunteers and not randomly selected. This might have a biased effect on the results depending on the motive of the participants in volunteering to the study. The sample size of the study was small and thus limiting generalizability to varying contexts (Leung, 2015).
3.6 Data analysis and Results
The procedure for data analysis have sufficiently been explained. For instance, the study used SPSS version 22 to conduct data analysis. The raw data was obtained from the website and downloaded into MS Excel files for purpose of consistency verification. Then a univariate analysis was conducted on both groups and individuals. The mean, minimum, median and maximum values were calculated and presented it the form of tables.
The data analysis was fairly rigorous since some few measures were adopted to improve its trustworthiness. Any possible entry errors in the study were minimised by restricting the numerical feedbacks to each question and marking those answered questions as missing page. The consistency of the collected data was first checked by downloading them into the Ms Excel files. All data necessary data were presented and relevant discussions made on them. The managers demonstrated competency with a mean score of 5.13 and 5.71 for self-assessment and combined colleague assessment respectively, whereas the participants were less competent with a means score of 3.59 (less than the threshold of 4) for the objective assessment.
3.7 Discussion
The results have been interpreted in accordance with the research questions. For instance, the results have been presented under different titles that incorporate different aspects of the research questions. The results have also been used to support previous studies (Stefl, 2008; McCarthy and Fitzpatrick, 2009) however, none was disproved.
4.0 Ethical Issues
4.1 Autonomy
It is the duty of the researchers to disclose information to the participants in a way they can easily comprehend for them to make an informed decision of acceptance or decline. In other words the involvement of the participant in the study should be based self-rule and not coercion (Miller et al., 2012). This ethical consideration has been applied in the quantitative study because the only participants included in the study were based on voluntary basis.
4.2 Confidentiality and anonymity
Confidentiality in research requires that an agreement be made between the researcher and the potential participant with regard to the use of collected data before data collection begins (Miller et al., 2012). Anonymity in research is when the researcher promises not to disclose the identifications of the respondent such as name and identification number during the whole study to avoid any possible risks. The quantitative study considered confidentiality of the participants through the use of ‘combined colleagues/respondents in which the mean score for each item of study was used record competency level of EIDM. As a result anonymity was also achieved with no disclosure of the specific individual details.
5.0 Summary of the appraised paper
The study is significant in assessing the competency of evidence-informed decision making of managers in the health sector. The study findings point out the specific areas of the competency of middle managers that demands improvement and changes so as to improve their competence. Furthermore, the study is important for healthcare organizations in policy formulation as it shows differences in the areas requiring improvement based on managers and the company.
The study also provides recommendations for further studies based on its findings, and as a result it points out the research gap that needs to be filled. The study also recommends the use of EIDM by middle-level managers since those who applied it in the case study were competent. However, the study used volunteers as participants for the study. This may give an exaggerated impression of the competency of the middle-line managers as it’s more likely that the volunteers comprised only of those who were well versed with the application of EIDM.
Qualitative Research
1.0 Introduction
The aim of this paper is to conduct a critique appraisal of a qualitative paper in the sector of public health. The paper is divided into various sections including tool selection, critical appraisal, ethical considerations, and summary of the paper.
2.0 Tool Selection
A CASP (critical appraisal skills programme) tool has been selected to appraise the qualitative study. This appraisal tool consists three main sections: A, B, and C described in details in the form of ten subsections (CASP, n.d). This tool has been selected due to its inclusivity and addresses the major parts of a research article. Furthermore, the critique tool is best suited for studies in the health sector and has been formulated by experts.
3.0 Critical appraisal
3.1 Validity of the study
The research objective was to explore the separation of Sudanese refugees in Australia from family and its effects on their mental health. Over 20,000 Sudanese refugees have moved to Australia over the past decades (Robinson, 2011). The aggregate impacts of migration experiences have been attributed to the rise in cases of mental illnesses among Sudanese refugees (Khawaja et al., 2008). However, there has been an oversight on the circumstances that affect mental health during resettlement. Comprehensive knowledge on the mental impacts on refugees during resettlement will help policy makers and charitable organizations to implement strategies that will help the refugees cope up with the resettlement challenges such as mental illnesses.
3.2 Appropriateness of the qualitative methodology
The qualitative approach is the most appropriate for the study because it enabled the researchers to only include participants that were familiar with the matters of refugee mental health and with multiple roles in order to share their actual experiences (Savic et al., 2013, p 384). A qualitative approach provides more information on the account of why things take place and the manner in which they impact individuals. Additionally, it endeavours to preclude pre-conceived ideas and attempts to approach issues from the viewpoint of the experiences of actual subjects (Hennink, Hutter, and Bailey, 2010).
3.3 Appropriateness of the research design
The researchers have not provided justification for their use of qualitative research design.
3.4 Appropriateness of the recruitment strategy
The researchers have explained how the informants’ best fitted the study by providing their characteristics with regard to their familiarity with matters of Sudanese mental health illnesses. Six of the respondents were male with 14 being female, some of which were care providers in mental sector, primary health care providers, social workers, and health service managers. However, the authors haven’t explained in detail how they were recruited except for stating that they all shared their individual experiences during interviews on page 384.
3.5 Data collection
The setting for the data collection was justified by the researchers in the background of the study. The authors highlighted the current situation of Sudanese refugees and the increasing trend of the population in Australia since 1996 (Savic et al., 2013, p 383). Additionally, the authors outline the negative experiences that the Sudanese refugees undergo in refugee camps and during pre-migration and post-migration.
Data collection was accomplished by the use of in-depth semi-structured interviews. Semi-structured interview permits participants the autonomy to freely express their views in their own ways, thus enabling the researcher to obtain the actual experiences of the informants, and hence increasing the credibility of the findings and inferences (Whiting, 2008). However, the authors have not provided justification for the use of in-depth semi-structured interviews.
The use of semi-structured interview has been made explicit by the authors. The interviews lasted for approximately three hours, were audio-recorded, and were carried out by the first author. An interview schedule was applied and it consisted of mental health needs, the experiences of resettlement among other study variables. Data saturation (Glaser and Strauss, 2017) was accomplished through constant comparison with an objective to ascertaining the point of emergence of new themes.
3.6 Relationship between Researcher and informants
The researchers have not judgmentally explained their individual roles and potential biases in the design of the research questions, recruitment of the study sample and selection of study location. However, the study indicates that the interviews were carried out by the first author including recording of audios.
3.7 Data analysis
The data analysis process has fairly been described in details. Transcription and analysis of the interviews were done using the Framework method to thematic analysis. The data was coded in NVivo (Bazeley and Jackson, 2013), and the development of the thematic framework accomplished iteratively. This involved data consultation, consistency of an audit trail, considering the relations between themes, and deliberations on the findings among the research team.
3.8 Findings
The findings are unambiguous and show that separation from family plays a significant role in the mental health. The credibility of the findings have been enhanced through the use of triangulation in which the findings were assessed by all the authors (Carter et al., 2014), negative cases given special attention, the application of an audit trail for reflexivity, and integration of several perspectives. The findings have also been examined in the view of the initial research question. For instance, the results have been discussed under different subtopic that build up and respond to the theme contained in the research question.
3.9 Value of the study
The discussion have been done in relation to the extant knowledge by highlighting previous researches that support or dispute the findings (Luster et al., 2008). Authors recommend further research to be done to assess the effects of mental health on separation, survival tactics at varying levels of during the process of refugee resettlement.
4.0 Ethical Issues
4.1 Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a principle of research ethic that involves the protection of confidential information obtained from the participants and the assurance of its use only to the purposes initially indicated at the beginning of the study. The researcher must make it clear at the commencement of the study the purpose for gathering data and assure the informant of the use of the findings for study purpose only for any other legal purpose. The study received approval by the Research and Ethics Committee of the University of Adelaide, but no specific explanations have been provided on the use of confidentiality (Recker, 2012).
4.2 Informed consent
Informed consent implies the request for the permission of a potential participant to agree to take part in a study with full disclosure of necessary information for making informed decision. Informed consent is inferred in the study because the participants were volunteers, therefore the assumption is that they were much cognizant of the details of the study before making the decision (Recker, 2012).
5.0 Summary of the appraised papers
The study provides undisputable proof of the impact of separation on the mental health of relocating refugees. The study also shows that the presence of mentally disturbed refugees abroad threatens the wellbeing of Australians as well. The identification of the source of mental illnesses is of significance in ascertaining the solution to the problem.
The coping strategies of mental stresses by the Sudanese refugees have also been highlighted such as the use of ICTs to sustain links, re-union of families, and by involvement in Sudanese society activities. All these information is critical to both policy makers and international non-governmental organizations in policy formulation towards looking for the solution to the problem. On the other hand, the sample size of the study is small for generizability thus limiting its application in different population context
References
Bazeley, P. and Jackson, K. eds., 2013. Qualitative data analysis with NVivo. Sage Publications Limited.
Briner, R.B., Denyer, D. and Rousseau, D.M., 2009. Evidence-based management: concept cleanup time?. Academy of Management Perspectives, 23(4), pp.19-32.
Carter, N., Bryant-Lukosius, D., DiCenso, A., Blythe, J. and Neville, A.J., 2014, September. The use of triangulation in qualitative research. In Oncology nursing forum (Vol. 41, No. 5).
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CSAP), n.d. Available from:
Glaser, B.G. and Strauss, A.L., 2017. Discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Routledge.
Hennink, M., Hutter, I. and Bailey, A., 2010. Qualitative research methods. Sage.
Howard, P., Liang, Z. and Fitzgerald, L.S., 2009. Evidence-based decision making in health service management: the knowledge and practice amongst middle to senior level health service managers in Victoria, Australia.
Khawaja, N.G., White, K.M., Schweitzer, R. and Greenslade, J., 2008. Difficulties and coping strategies of Sudanese refugees: A qualitative approach. Transcultural psychiatry, 45(3), pp.489-512.
Kong, H., 2013. Relationships among work-family supportive supervisors, career competencies, and job involvement. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 33, pp.304-309.
Leung, L., 2015. Validity, reliability, and generalizability in qualitative research. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 4(3), p.324.
Liang, Z., Howard, P. and Wollersheim, D., 2017. Assessing the Competence of Evidence-Informed decision-Making amongst health Service Managers. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 12(3), p.16.
Luster, T., Qin, D.B., Bates, L., Johnson, D.J. and Rana, M., 2008. The lost boys of Sudan: Ambiguous loss, search for family, and reestablishing relationships with family members. Family relations, 57(4), pp.444-456.
McCarthy, G. and Fitzpatrick, J.J., 2009. Development of a competency framework for nurse managers in Ireland. The journal of continuing education in nursing, 40(8), pp.346-350.
McCarthy, G. and Fitzpatrick, J.J., 2009. Development of a competency framework for nurse managers in Ireland. The journal of continuing education in nursing, 40(8), pp.346-350.
Miller, T., Birch, M., Mauthner, M. and Jessop, J. eds., 2012. Ethics in qualitative research. Sage.
Reay, T., Berta, W. and Kohn, M.K., 2009. What’s the evidence on evidence-based management?. Academy of Management Perspectives, 23(4), pp.5-18.
Recker, J., 2012. Ethical considerations in research. In Scientific Research in Information Systems (pp. 141-147). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Robinson, J., 2011. Sudanese heritage and living in Australia: Implications of demography for individual and community resilience. Australasian Review of African Studies, The, 32(2), p.25.
Savic, M., Chur?Hansen, A., Mahmood, M.A. and Moore, V., 2013. Separation from family and its impact on the mental health of Sudanese refugees in Australia: a qualitative study. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 37(4), pp.383-388.
Stefl, M.E., 2008. Common competencies for all healthcare managers: the Healthcare Leadership Alliance model. Journal of healthcare management, 53(6).
Student Learning Centre. 2012. Critiquing Research Articles.
Whiting, L.S., 2008. Semi-structured interviews: guidance for novice researchers. Nursing Standard, 22(23).
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