Beliefs Regarding Mammography Screening Among Women - Assignment Example

Research Critique on Mammography Screening Beliefs Number of the Article The of the article is “Beliefs regarding mammography screening among women visiting the emergency department for non-urgent care.” The article was written by Hatcher-Keller, Rayens, Dignan, Schoenberg and Allison (2014) all of who have solid background in nursing. Abstract This article is based on a research conducted to establish the reason behind general reluctance of American women to seek early mammography screening for invasive breast cancer. The researchers indicated that one-eighth of the women stand the risk of experiencing the condition. Despite the prevalence of the condition, especially among vulnerable women, up to 40% do not consider the diagnosis as important. Does the Title Clearly State the Problem, Variables and Population Under Study? Yes. The beliefs which support restraint from mammography diagnosis are the problem in the study; the variables are the primary care provider status and insurance cover status. The population under the study is women seeking non-urgent interventions in emergency units. Does the Abstract Clearly and Concisely Summarize the Main Features of the Report? Yes. The abstract provides a summary of the literature review, the purpose of study, the methodology, the findings, the discussion and the conclusion. Research Problem Is the Problem Statement Clear? Yes. It delves in the role of various beliefs which impede proper mammography screening among the population under study. Does the Investigator Identify Key Research Questions and Variables to be examined? Yes. The investigators identified the key research question as investigating the differences in the belief systems which hinder maximum use of mammography for screening for invasive breast cancer. The variables concern the party that will shoulder the costs associated with the screening and or the treatment plan. Is the Significance of the Problem Discussed? Yes. The researchers discussed the significance of the problem by noting that adopting mammography screening is the surest way to curb most deaths facing the one-eighth of American who fail to go for the screening early enough. Does the Study Have the Potential to Help Solve a Problem that is Currently Faced in Clinical Practice? Yes. By quashing unnecessary beliefs and doubts about the effectiveness of mammography screening option among women, the study definitely encourages more women to join the program so as to obtain timely medical interventions against breast cancer. Purpose of the Study Is the Purpose of the Study Presented? Yes. The purpose of the research was to investigate varied beliefs in respect of mammography diagnosis among women seeking non-urgent care in emergency units and to propose interventions. Does the Investigator Provide a Sense of What He or She is Doing and Why? Yes. The investigators said they were focusing on the hindrances to breast cancer screening based on beliefs so as to promote more participation in the process in order to curb the problem. Research Question Are Research Questions Explicitly Stated? No. If not, is their absence justified? Yes. The title and the purpose of the research are explicit enough. They leave no room for conjecture on what the research is all about. Literature Review Does the Literature Review Follow a Logical Sequence Leading to a Critical Review of Supporting and Conflicting Prior Work? Yes. The literature review follows a logical sequence by revising earlier studies putting the number of women affected by invasive breast cancer as one in every eight people. They also reviews critical literature showing that mammography is effective in early diagnosis of the cancer, but up to 40% of the vulnerable women seeking emergency interventions do not comply with mammography screening. As such, they suffer disproportional rates of mortality from the disease. Is the Relationship of the Study to Previous Research Clear? Yes. The relationship of the study to the previous research is based on clear statistics and facts showing that the underuse of mammography is the greatest risk factor to invasive breast cancer deaths. Does the Investigator Describe Gaps in the Literature and Support the Necessity of the Present Study? Yes. The investigators described the varied understandings of the beliefs about mammography screening as the gap in the literature and focused on the subject in the current study in order to resolve to push more vulnerable women to seek early diagnoses and interventions. Theoretical or Conceptual Framework Is a Rationale Stated for the Theoretical or Conceptual Framework? Yes. The rationale is to end preventable deaths caused by lack of early diagnosis for the disease in women Study Assumptions Are the Assumptions of the Study Presented? Yes. What are the assumptions of the study? A majority of women who do not comply with the early screening are contemplators. The non-contemplators are fewer and do not believe they are at risk of the type of cancer. Study Limitations Are the Limitations of the Study Acknowledged? Yes. What are the limitations? The study used a smaller sample and thus the results are not general The study may not reflect the accurate trends among women who are 40 years or older. The sampling method was somehow compromised and thus, the outcomes cannot be applied in all cases. Hypothesis Does the Investigator Clearly State the Theoretical Basis for Hypothesis Formulation? Yes. The investigators applied Trans-theoretical Model to determine behavior change in the sampled women and Health Belief Model (HBM) to determine subjective disease risks and hindrances as well as benefits to the screening program. Is the Hypothesis Stated precisely and in a Form that Permits It to be tested? By using a hypothesis that prompts investigation of the connection between the point of one’s willingness to subscribe to mammography requirements and hindrances, advantages, and perceived vulnerability of women seeking emergency attention for non-urgent care, it can be easily tested. Study Variables and Concepts Are the Relevant Variables and Concepts Clearly and Operationally Defined? Yes. The primary care provider status is conceptually and operationally defined as government-supported program which is likely to see many more subscribers than insurance status because the under the latter program the costs may be passed over to the care seeker. Research Design Is The Design Clearly Identified and Described? Yes. The researchers stated clearly that they would administer measurement tools for risk, merits, and hindrances to a sample of 110 participants. They also acknowledged using socio-demographic facts and willingness stage. Is the design appropriate for the research questions or hypotheses? Yes. Because it evokes varied beliefs about seeking mammography screening for invasive breast cancer. If an Experimental Design was used, was it Appropriate? No. The experimental design was not used. If an Experimental Design was Used, What Means were used to Control for Threats to Internal and External Validity? Not applicable. Was the Assignment of Subjects to Experimental and Control Groups Clearly Described? Not applicable Does the Research Design Allow the Researcher to Draw a Cause-and-Effect Relationship Between the Variables? Yes. The party that is responsible for all or a significant part of the screening costs has a substantial impact on process. If a Nonexperimental Design was Used, Would an Experimental Design Have Been More Appropriate? Yes. It would have delineated strong beliefs based on fact from superficial ones before and after testing the outcomes of the control group and experimental group. If a Non-experimental Design was Used, What Means Were Used to Control for Extraneous Variables? The investigators used socio-demographic evidence to control for extraneous variables. Population and Sample Are the Subjects and Sampling Methods Described? Yes. The samples had Self-selection. Is there an Indication of How Sample Size Was Determined (Was a Power Analysis Performed)? Yes. The investigators settled for the number of women who were found waiting at the emergency unit in addition to those who had visited the unit over the previous 6 months. Is There Adequate Assurance that the Rights of Human Subjects Were Protected? Yes. The researchers selected the sample on a voluntary basis and kept all sensitive personal information confidential. Pilot Study Was a Pilot Study Conducted? No. Data Collection and Analysis Are Methods of Data Collection Sufficiently Described? No. But the researchers could have used a mix of open-ended and closed interview questions to obtain the results. If There Was More Than One Data Collector, Was Interrater Reliability Adequate? There were two data collectors and the interrator reliability was adequate because the process was well defined and was conducted purely in English. How were the data organized? How were the data presented in the report? The data was organized in the form of a literature review. Three data tables were also used in the report to provide summary of the findings. Data Analysis Are the Statistical Tests used Identified and the Values Reported? Yes. For example, the investigators used “F tests” based on least significant variation procedure for comparing two sets of data according to Fisher’s requirements. They used value “1” to symbolize contemplation or action and “0” for other stages. Are Appropriate Statistics Used, According to Level of Measurement, Sample Size, Sampling Method, And Hypotheses/Research Questions? Yes. The use of complex statistics would have presented serious problems to the investigators due to the large sample of 110 participants, the voluntary nature of sampling and the seemingly quantitative and qualitative research questions and hypotheses Interpretation of the Findings Are the Results for Each Hypothesis and Research Question Clearly and Objectively Presented? Yes. The researchers clearly presented the rate of women conformity to mammography diagnosis at about three-fifths. The remaining two-fifths were identified as contemplators. In addition, the non-contemplators considered themselves as substantially less likely to be at risk of developing breast cancer. Yet, the participants who had more hindrances to mammography or Black women in general considered the screening method as being less important to their overall wellbeing. Do the Figures and Tables Illuminate the Presentation of Results? Yes. The tables provide a one-stop summary of all the findings, especially for readers who do not want to get the findings direct from the literature. But even after going through the report, the tables are still indispensable in terms of summary. Are Results Described in Light of the Theoretical Framework and Supporting Literature? Yes. The results demonstrate the different social belief systems hindering maximum use of the screening method for breast cancer at certain stages of life. Are Conclusions Based on the Results and Related to the Hypotheses? Yes. They recap the hypotheses and answer them with accurate information obtained from the investigation. They also recommend future research on the topic. Are Generalizations Made Within the Scope of the Findings? No. This is because the study is focused purely on a small group of women below the age of 40 years who the researchers acknowledge as best represented in the findings. Are Implications of Findings Discussed (i.e., for Practice, Education, and Research)? Yes. The findings are educative on the dangers of late screenings for cancer; they support practice by improving compliance in the screening for breast cancer; and bridge the research gap on beliefs and poor compliance with breast cancer screenings as well as stimulate more research on belief hindrances. Are Recommendations for Further Research Stated? Yes. The investigators recommended further research on a bigger sample of women for more accurate generalization of the findings Usefulness of the Findings Is the Study of Relevance to Practice? Yes. It improves more early cancer screenings for more effective therapy and thus lowers the strains on nursing women who are at risk of death because their diagnoses was conducted late. Is the Study Feasible for Nurses to Implement? Yes. Nurses can implement the study by creating awareness on the need for early cancer screenings and opening mobile mammography screening centers at the grassroots level in order to improve compliance. Such efforts could undermine the influence of negative beliefs on the process or those who cannot access the services. Do the Benefits of the Study Outweigh the Risks? Yes. By improving early screening for breast cancer and lowering mortality rates among women who are at risk of the disease, the benefits of the study outweighs the risks. This is especially true because human life is priceless. Reference Hatcher-Keller, J., Rayens, M.K., Dignan, M., Schoenberg, N., & Allison, P., (2014). Beliefs regarding mammography screening among women visiting the emergency department for non-urgent care. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 40(2), e27–e35. Read More