Qualitative research is a scientific method used to study human behavior. Qualitative research is conducted by observing and interviews people to gather data about their beliefs, values, and opinions. Qualitative research is often used in nursing to study how patients cope with illness and how they make decisions about their care. Qualitative research has many strengths, including the ability to generate rich data about people’s lives and experiences.
However, qualitative research also has some limitations. For example, qualitative research is often criticized for being subjective and biased. Additionally, qualitative data can be difficult to interpret and analyze. Qualitative research is a valuable tool for understanding human behavior, but it should be used in conjunction with other methods to ensure that the data is reliable and valid.
Qualitative research is a particular, personal approach for making sense of life events and giving them meaning, according to Burns and Grove (2011). A qualitative study must establish a research problem or issue; hypotheses aren’t required; and the study’s questions, which change as the study progresses, are typically very broad. As a consequence, the researcher sought data in order to form opinions; such studies are unmeasurable.
Qualitative research is useful in studies that try to establish a naturalistic understanding of how people interact with their environment (Burns & Grove, 2011). Qualitative research is often associated with the scientific method, as it relies on empirical evidence. This type of research uses inductive reasoning to arrive at general conclusions about the data collected.
Qualitative research is also used extensively in nursing and health care. In these settings, qualitative research can help provide a more complete picture of patients’ experiences and perspectives. Qualitative research can also be used to explore new areas of nursing practice and develop hypotheses for future quantitative research.
Qualitative research has several advantages over quantitative research. First, qualitative methods are usually more flexible and allow for more creativity in the design of the study. Qualitative methods also tend to be more responsive to the changing needs of the research question as the study progresses.
Qualitative methods are also more likely to result in rich and detailed data that can provide a better understanding of the phenomenon under study. Finally, qualitative methods are often more efficient and cost-effective than quantitative methods, especially when investigating a new or understudied area.
There are also some disadvantages associated with qualitative research. Qualitative data can be more difficult to analyze than quantitative data, and it can be challenging to develop reliable and valid measures of concepts in qualitative studies. Qualitative studies are also often criticized for being subjective and biased, although this criticism is not always warranted. Additionally, qualitative studies usually require more time and resources than quantitative studies.
The aim of this qualitative study critique is to evaluate the problem statement, purpose, and research questions as well as the literature review and theoretical framework of Qualitative Study on the Impact of Falling in Frail Older Persons and Family Caregivers: Foundations for Development of a Falls Management Program.
The goal of this evaluation is to offer a thorough assessment that may assist develop the quality of Qualitative Study on the Impact of Falling in Frail Older Persons and Family Caregivers: Foundations for Development of a Falls Management Program.
The Qualitative Study on the Impact of Falling in Frail Older Persons and Family Caregivers: Foundations for Development of a Falls Management Program was designed to explore the impact that falling has on frail older persons and their family caregivers. The research question guiding this study was, “What are the consequences of falling for frail older persons and their caregivers?” To answer this question, the researcher used a qualitative methodology with content analysis.
The first section of this critique will provide an overview of qualitative research. Qualitative research is a scientific method used to gain insights into people’s behaviors, experiences and beliefs (Denzin & Lincoln, 2011). Qualitative research is often used in the field of nursing to explore the lived experiences of patients and nurses (Polit & Beck, 2017). Qualitative research is conducted through interviews, focus groups and observations (Denzin & Lincoln, 2011).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were roughly 2 million nonfatal fall injuries in persons aged 65 and older that were treated in emergency departments in 2010, which cost around $30 billion (2012). Falls cause fractures (hip, spine, forearm, leg, ankle), lacerations, and head injuries. After a fall, someone may become disabled or lose their independence.
Activity level is an important factor in maintaining muscle strength, bone density, and balance; all of which help to prevent falls.
There are many interventions that have been proven to be effective in decreasing the number of falls among older adults. Qualitative research is one type of research that can be used to study fall prevention interventions. Qualitative research is defined as “a systematic inquiry into an area of interest in order to describe, explain or understand the phenomena within that area” (Polit & Beck, 2012).
Qualitative research uses inductive reasoning to generate new theories or hypotheses from the data collected (Creswell, 2014). Qualitative research is conducted using a naturalistic approach which allows the researcher to study individuals in their natural setting without manipulating or controlling any variables (Creswell, 2014).
The aim of this study was to examine how current routine care affected the patient’s experience of care before and after a dementia-related injury. The analysis included 43 persons with mild cognitive impairments who had experienced a recent fall and were receiving regular care, as well as 10 dementia patients.
All individuals had fallen recently, and both them and their caregivers were used as the paper’s frame of reference. A framework was created from the findings of the study that consisted of two tables displaying patients’ sociodemographic and health characteristics, along with caregivers’ sociodemographic and health characteristics, and care recipients’ sociodemographic and health characteristics.
The study findings also revealed that the most common reason for falling among all patients was due to environmental factors such as slippery floors or inadequate lighting. Other reasons for falling included muscle weakness, dizziness, and orthostatic hypotension.
Among cognitively unimpaired patients, the most common reason for falling was due to environmental factors, while among mild cognitive impairment patients, the most common reason for falling was due to muscle weakness. Among dementia patients, the most common reason for falling was due to orthostatic hypotension.
The authors note that their study has several limitations, including its small sample size and the fact that all of the participants were recruited from a single hospital. In addition, the study did not assess how well patients and caregivers understood the information that was presented to them. Nonetheless, the authors believe that their study provides valuable insights into the reasons why patients fall and how best to prevent falls from happening.
Overall, this is a well-conducted study that provides valuable insights into the reasons why patients fall and how best to prevent falls from happening. The small sample size is a limitation, but the study’s findings are still useful. Healthcare providers can use the findings of this study to help educate patients and caregivers about fall prevention.