Guide to an Overall Critique of a Qualitative Research Article
Polit & Beck (2017) p 106-109
Student Marina Krasitskaya Date April 30, 2019
Name
Article OOlsson, M., & Hansagi, H. (2001). Repeated use of the emergency department:
Citation Qualitative study of the patients perspective. Emergency Medicine
(APA format )
Journal, 18(6), 430-434. doi:10.1136/emj.18.6.430
NUR 610 INSTRUCTIONS: The format of the critique follows the sections of the article. Pay attention to
section headers on this document as that is where you will find information in the article. After
answering YES/NO to the critique question (make answer bold or in italics), follow with a brief
explanation or description of how the research demonstrated that the answer to the question. If the
question does not apply to the study, state that in the box.
Aspect of the Research Article
Title
1 Is the title a good one, suggesting the key phenomenon and the group or community Yes
or No
under study? Explain:
The title directly describes the content of the study, which explores patients’ perspectives of
their repeated emergency department usage. It also points out the methodology of the
study (qualitative method).
Abstract
2. Does the abstract clearly and concisely summarize the main features of the report? Yes
Explain: or No
The abstract overtly summarized the study’s content, method used for research, where the
study took place, the size of the study sample, brief overview of the study results, and
concluded about the research findings.
Introduction
Statement of Problem
3. Was the problem stated unambiguously, and was it easy to identify? Explain: Yes
There is a concrete problem stated in the article which is formulated as overly frequent use or No
of emergency rooms by certain groups of patients, and the question of what causes these
patients to seek immediate medical attention so often. This accounts for a substantial portion
of total ED visits of the facility where this study took place. It was easy to identify, and the
authors gave background information to this problem. They also pointed out that this
problem exists in many countries.
4. Is the problem significant for nursing? Explain: Yes
1
, Guide to an Overall Critique of a Qualitative Research Article
Polit & Beck (2017) p 106-109
While working on developing the EBP problem, I encountered a large quantity of different or No
studies related to frequent ED utilization, many of which discussed how that affects nursing
burn out, overflows emergency rooms, causes frustration for the staff and improper diversion
of health care resources. Although, this is the first article I found which talks about patients’
perception of need to come back to emergency room for the same issue, from their
perspectives, not the providers’. It is our professional goal to address the patients’ needs,
and to learn about the reasons why patients display such behavior is helping nurses to
educate the patients, and address the problem with consideration of patients’ perspective.
An interesting question raised in this study was whether these patients come back because
their needs are being met, or because their needs are not being met. This is significant for
nurses to know.
5. Was there a good match between the research problem and the use of a qualitative Yes
approach, versus quantitative, to find the answer? Explain: or No
The study concentrated on patient perspectives, examining opinions and personal meaning
attached to the patients’ behaviors. Therefore to study patients’ experiences, the qualitative
approach is the best match.
Hypothesis or research questions
6. Were research questions explicitly stated? Explain: Yes
The study objective stated that the researchers questioned what lies behind repeated ED or No
use from the patients’ own perspectives. Although, the writers stated that in this study they
do not test a hypothesis. They used a qualitative method to explore the patients’ reasoning
behind frequent utilization of ED as well as their experiences during these repeated visits.
7. Were the questions consistent with the study’s philosophical basis, underlying tradition, or Yes
ideological orientation? or No
This study’s tradition is rooted in the fields of psychology and sociology. The authors
concentrated their research on patients’ behaviors (as our textbook points that
psychological research tradition inquires about behavioral observations in the natural
context and experiences of individuals). The research studies patients’ experiences at the
time of repeated ED visits as well as observed behaviors. In addition, the sociological
component of the study was related to evaluating how patients make sense of social
interactions.
Literature Review
8. Did the article adequately summarize the existing body of knowledge related to the Yes
problem or phenomenon of interest? Explain: or No
There is no separate section in the article dedicated to the literature review summary.
Although, throughout the article the writers provided references to existing studies, statistics,
and points of views presented by other authors. Therefore, the article adequately
summarizes literature related to the problem described in the study.
9. Was the literature review up-to-date (ideally less than 5 years unless classic)? Describe: Yes or
The literature review is based on the studies performed 18 years or older. At the same time, No
the phenomena of frequent ED utilization still exists, and the reasons for such behaviors are
still the same which are presented in the study. In addition, the angle in which authors
looked at this issue is unique, and patient’s perspective is not a common topic in most
research dedicated to this issue.
10. Did the literature review provide support that the research performed in the article Yes
2
Polit & Beck (2017) p 106-109
Student Marina Krasitskaya Date April 30, 2019
Name
Article OOlsson, M., & Hansagi, H. (2001). Repeated use of the emergency department:
Citation Qualitative study of the patients perspective. Emergency Medicine
(APA format )
Journal, 18(6), 430-434. doi:10.1136/emj.18.6.430
NUR 610 INSTRUCTIONS: The format of the critique follows the sections of the article. Pay attention to
section headers on this document as that is where you will find information in the article. After
answering YES/NO to the critique question (make answer bold or in italics), follow with a brief
explanation or description of how the research demonstrated that the answer to the question. If the
question does not apply to the study, state that in the box.
Aspect of the Research Article
Title
1 Is the title a good one, suggesting the key phenomenon and the group or community Yes
or No
under study? Explain:
The title directly describes the content of the study, which explores patients’ perspectives of
their repeated emergency department usage. It also points out the methodology of the
study (qualitative method).
Abstract
2. Does the abstract clearly and concisely summarize the main features of the report? Yes
Explain: or No
The abstract overtly summarized the study’s content, method used for research, where the
study took place, the size of the study sample, brief overview of the study results, and
concluded about the research findings.
Introduction
Statement of Problem
3. Was the problem stated unambiguously, and was it easy to identify? Explain: Yes
There is a concrete problem stated in the article which is formulated as overly frequent use or No
of emergency rooms by certain groups of patients, and the question of what causes these
patients to seek immediate medical attention so often. This accounts for a substantial portion
of total ED visits of the facility where this study took place. It was easy to identify, and the
authors gave background information to this problem. They also pointed out that this
problem exists in many countries.
4. Is the problem significant for nursing? Explain: Yes
1
, Guide to an Overall Critique of a Qualitative Research Article
Polit & Beck (2017) p 106-109
While working on developing the EBP problem, I encountered a large quantity of different or No
studies related to frequent ED utilization, many of which discussed how that affects nursing
burn out, overflows emergency rooms, causes frustration for the staff and improper diversion
of health care resources. Although, this is the first article I found which talks about patients’
perception of need to come back to emergency room for the same issue, from their
perspectives, not the providers’. It is our professional goal to address the patients’ needs,
and to learn about the reasons why patients display such behavior is helping nurses to
educate the patients, and address the problem with consideration of patients’ perspective.
An interesting question raised in this study was whether these patients come back because
their needs are being met, or because their needs are not being met. This is significant for
nurses to know.
5. Was there a good match between the research problem and the use of a qualitative Yes
approach, versus quantitative, to find the answer? Explain: or No
The study concentrated on patient perspectives, examining opinions and personal meaning
attached to the patients’ behaviors. Therefore to study patients’ experiences, the qualitative
approach is the best match.
Hypothesis or research questions
6. Were research questions explicitly stated? Explain: Yes
The study objective stated that the researchers questioned what lies behind repeated ED or No
use from the patients’ own perspectives. Although, the writers stated that in this study they
do not test a hypothesis. They used a qualitative method to explore the patients’ reasoning
behind frequent utilization of ED as well as their experiences during these repeated visits.
7. Were the questions consistent with the study’s philosophical basis, underlying tradition, or Yes
ideological orientation? or No
This study’s tradition is rooted in the fields of psychology and sociology. The authors
concentrated their research on patients’ behaviors (as our textbook points that
psychological research tradition inquires about behavioral observations in the natural
context and experiences of individuals). The research studies patients’ experiences at the
time of repeated ED visits as well as observed behaviors. In addition, the sociological
component of the study was related to evaluating how patients make sense of social
interactions.
Literature Review
8. Did the article adequately summarize the existing body of knowledge related to the Yes
problem or phenomenon of interest? Explain: or No
There is no separate section in the article dedicated to the literature review summary.
Although, throughout the article the writers provided references to existing studies, statistics,
and points of views presented by other authors. Therefore, the article adequately
summarizes literature related to the problem described in the study.
9. Was the literature review up-to-date (ideally less than 5 years unless classic)? Describe: Yes or
The literature review is based on the studies performed 18 years or older. At the same time, No
the phenomena of frequent ED utilization still exists, and the reasons for such behaviors are
still the same which are presented in the study. In addition, the angle in which authors
looked at this issue is unique, and patient’s perspective is not a common topic in most
research dedicated to this issue.
10. Did the literature review provide support that the research performed in the article Yes
2
