Impact of Uncontrolled Blood Sugar Level (BSL) on Spouse and Family - Research Proposal Example

Impact of Uncontrolled Blood Sugar Level (BSL) on Spouse and Family Introduction Diabetes is the most common modern day disease that impacts all age groups. It is generally defined as a metabolism disordered wherein, the glucose released after food digestion fails to enter the cells due to lack of insulin and remains in the blood. Consequently, the blood sugar levels shoot up. Blood glucose is the primary fuel used by the body to produce energy. Further, since there is less insulin and the cells do not take in glucose appropriately, the glucose in the blood goes out through urine and hence a significant source of body energy goes waste. (http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS/OVERVIEW/INDEX.HTM) Diabetes has a great impact not only on the daily routine of the patient, but also of his or her spouse and other family members. Managing diabetes in older age, especially with uncontrolled BSL can be a very testing task for the patient as well as his or her family members. A diabetic patient greatly relies on the support of his or her family members to be able to follow the advised daily routines and check ups. It is also important for the family members to completely understand the intricacies of diabetes and offer the best suitable help and support the patient. This research proposal lists the aims of the study pertaining to impact of uncontrolled BSL on spouse and family members of the patient. In addition, the proposal discusses the various research methodologies that would be apt to conduct this study and the different data management options that can be used for this research. The proposal also discusses the rigour for this proposed research. The aims of this study are: 1. To gauge the impact of diabetes and uncontrolled BSL on the spouses and family members of the patient. Research question A detailed analysis of the available literature on managing diabetes in old age and the patient’s dependence on family for the same led to following research question: What is the impact (psychological, physical and financial) of having a diabetic person of old age in the family with uncontrolled BSL? How do the spouse of the patient and other family members react to the everyday challenges poised by uncontrolled BSL? Qualitative research approach There are two primary methods for conducting any research, quantitative methods and qualitative methods. While quantitative methods heavily rely on statistical methods to derive research outcomes, the qualitative methods include historical methods, action research, collaborative evaluation research, basic interpretive, phenomenology, grounded theory, feminist critical approaches, ethnography, narrative analysis, postmodern, post cultural, case study, critical and additional approaches (Holloway & Wheeler, 2002). With a wide variety of research methodologies available, qualitative approach is a more suitable approach to conduct the proposed study. Furthermore, since the primary source of information in this study would be the interactions with the patients and their family members, a definite statistical model cannot be used to explain the various human experiences. Phenomenological approach For gauging the reaction of spouses and family members towards diabetes and how having a patient in the family impacts them, the phenomenological methodology under the qualitative research approach will be used. The phenomenological approach would allow the patients and their family members to record their experiences in form of answers to certain questions. Diabetes impacts an estimated 18 million lives and the rate of diagnosis continues to rise among people of all ages, including children and adults.  Various studies conducted in this regard have shown that not only the patients, but also their closed ones tend to suffer from high levels of anxiety and depression. Moreover, researches have shown that families in which parents suffer from decreased psychological functioning due to diabetes may produce children who are very hesitant and unable to face the medical regimen that diabetes brings due to the lack of the necessary social support that their family can give. (Katherine Doyle, The psychosocial impact of diabetes in the family) Considering the psychological factors associated with the study and their crucial significant, the phenomenology approach would be apt because phenomenology is the study of how people describe the things and experiences they come to know through their senses. As defined by Husserl (1859-1938), phenomenology asserts that people can only know what they experience, and that sensory experience, interpretation, and meaning are intertwined (Polit and Beck, 2004). In addition, the qualitative research approach as described by Holloway & Wheeler, tends to bring forth the experience facts as felt by the subjects at the point of consciousness (Crotty, 1998). Consequently, the primary task of identifying and eliminating assumptions related to various human experiences associated with diabetes and its patients can be achieved through the phenomenological approach. The phenomenological approach in this study will provide the family members and the patients an opportunity to relate and describing in their own words the experience of living with a diabetic with uncontrolled BSL. Since the phenomenological approach focuses on participants describing their experiences and exploring their meanings, it is a very significant approach to understand even the complex human experiences pertaining to a particular situation.(Polit & Hungler, 1999). Data Collection Methods The primary source of data for this study will be relatives of fifty diabetic patients aged 45-55. The families belonging to different socio-economic background would be interviewed to understand their experience of living with a diabetic patient. For this study, interviews would be conducted to record the experiences of patients and their family members. Numerous studies have used interviews as a primary tool for data collection. To make it easy for the participants, well structured questionnaire will be provided to the family members. This would guide them in the right direction by building their focus to specific things and prevent astray responses. Advantages and disadvantages of interviews A primary advantage of qualitative methodology comprises of the interviewers’ ability to ask questions which are to the point, relate exactly to the given situation and encourage subjects to speak out. The interviewer can use various open ended questions to encourage the subjects to speak about their experiences and the challenges they face while living with a diabetic person. Analysis of these responses would enable the interviewer to gauge the impact the diabetes has on the family members of patients with uncontrolled BSL. To make it convenient for the subjects, interviews would be arranged in advance and absolute privacy would be ensured about the patient as well as the subject’s identity. Data management Once the data would be collected via the interviews, the data would be chunked appropriately and stored in a logical fashion. Since qualitative methods tend to produce huge amount of data, it becomes imperative to store it in an appropriate manner. A suitable data management program may be used to arrange and store data in an appropriate format. Data analysis Due to the huge variety of methods that are used in qualitative studies, it is important for the researcher to explain the nature of the analytical method that will be used in the study Cormack, 2000). Further, in the phenomenological approach, there are several types of data analysis, especially in descriptive phenomenology, which are Colaizzi (1978), Giorgi (1985), and Van Kaam (1966) (cited in Polit & Beck, 2004). For this study, interviews will be transcribed verbatim and Colaizzi’s (1978) method of data analysis will be used, because it has a step for “validation of results by returning to the study participants” (Polit & Beck, p. 584). Following steps may be undertaken to conduct an appropriate data analysis: Every verbatim transcript will be read to obtain a general feeling for the theme of the participants’ descriptions of their experiences. Significant statements pertaining to the experience of using computer systems will be extracted. Every non-repetitive statement will be listed, which is referred to as a meaning unit. Meaning units will be clustered into themes, and these themes will be used to generate a description of the experience. Verbatim examples will be used to illustrate and validate the process by which this occurs. Study participants will be asked to review transcripts and the descriptions of using computer systems resulting from their interview transcripts for accuracy. Revisions will be made in those cases in which an inconsistency occurs (Polit & Beck, 2004). Rigour Rigour of a research can be maintained by using the right sampling, data collection, data analysis methods and interpretation techniques. The study needs to be consistent in terms of its design and methodology. A clear link needs to be established between problem design and research question, the question and method used, the sampling method, data collection and data analysis. In addition, it is important for the researcher to adopt methods that are reasonable and comprehensive. (Meadows et al., 2003). Rosalina F. Chiovitti in her paper ‘Rigour and grounded theory research’ suggests eight methods of research practice that can be followed to enhance the rigour of the research. These steps include: 1. Letting participants guide the inquiry process. 2. Checking the theoretical construction generated against participants’ meanings of the phenomenon; 3. Using participants’ actual words in the theory. 4. Articulating the researcher’s personal views and insights about the phenomenon explored. 5. Specifying clearly the criteria built into the researcher’s thinking. 6. Specifying how and why participants in the study were selected; 7. Delineate the scope of the research; 8. Describing how the literature relates to each category which emerged in the theory. (Rosalina F. Chiovitti, 2002) According to Chiovitti, these eight methods of research practice are best suited for researches in the fields of nursing, management, practice and education. The steps help in enhancing rigour during the research process and also for critiquing published grounded theory research reports. Conclusion To summarise, the aims and research question of this study are clearly identified regarding the meaning of family’s experiences of dealing with a diabetic patient in their daily routine. The design of the study is descriptive phenomenology based on the qualitative approach, followed by the explanation of appropriate methods that need to conduct this study. Finally the rigour of the study is accounted for. References: 1. Crotty, The foundations of social research: Meaning and perspective in the research process1998 2. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS/OVERVIEW/INDEX.HTM) 3. Katherine Doyle, The psychosocial impact of diabetes in the family,2002 4. Meadows et al., Qualitative Health Research Proposals With Integrity, 2003 5. Polit & Beck, Nursing Research , 2004 6. Polit & Hungler ,Essentials of Nursing Research : Methods, Appraisal and Utilization (Study Guide) by, 1999 7. Rosalina F. Chiovitti, Rigour and grounded theory research 2002) Read More