Research Annotation Paper - Annotated Bibliography Example

Annotation of research papers Name Institution 1. Financial abuse of older people by family members: Views and experiences of older Australians and their family members. Research paradigm The anti-positivism research paradigm is in use in this research paper. This research paradigm emphasises that social reality is understood from a personal level, that is, where a person shares personal experiences instead of conducting research. The emphasis is that human behaviour is best understood by interaction with phenomena. The research paper is based on different surveys conducted which give personal views and experiences concerning financial abuse of older people. Research methods and findings The research paper is based on a comparison and analysis of the research findings of two national surveys. The surveys use personal interviews and participants observations to collect data. The first national survey involved collecting information from service providers working with older people or their families who ranked 35 risk factors that make an older person vulnerable to financial abuse. The findings of this survey were used to come up with survey questions for older people and their families about their concerns about the finances of the older people and the reason for such concerns. The findings in these surveys were used to come up with the research paper. The research identified a family member having a strong sense of entitlement to an older person’s property or possessions, an older person having diminished capacity, and an older person being dependent on a family member for care as the main risk factors that make an older person vulnerable to financial abuse. The sense of entitlement was based on the fact that the family members would eventually inherit the property of the elder people. Other factors included where a family member has drug or alcohol problems, where an older person is frightened of a family member and where an older person lacks awareness of his rights and entitlements. Older people were frightened of some family relatives due to the perpetrator’s mental problems, the temperament of the perpetrator and the perpetrator taking advantage of the frailty of the older person. Older people were concerned that aggressive nature of their children who are always seeking financial support from them hence increasing the risk of financial abuse. The research finds that the nature of the financial abuse is intentional. This means that such abuse results from the desire by family members to use the property of the older person for their own benefit or that of others. This is based on the assumption that the older person no longer needs the money or that the property would finally transfer to them. Evaluation The fact that the research paper is based on interviews form service providers, family members and older people signifies that the data contained therein is accurate and reliable. It is based on the personal experiences of all the interviewees hence lessening the chances for manipulation of data and information collected. The research paper however ought to have compared abuse of older people by the family members compared to the service providers. It should also have considered the risks of abuse associated with people under the care of service providers. 2. Managing risk of difficult behaviours in the hospital emergency department: The use of cigarette breaks mental health patients. Research paradigm The research uses the anti-positivist research paradigm and is based responses to questionnaires submitted to staff from the emergency department. The researchers interact with staff from the emergency department at a personal level to identify whether they utilise cigarette breaks as a means of alleviating or preventing difficult behaviours in mental health patients. Research methods and findings The research uses the quantitative and qualitative methods of research to collect information on which the study is conducted. The responses indicated in the research are as a result of interviews conducted on emergency department staff dealing with mental patients. The staff members are given questionnaires about their use of cigarette breaks to prevent difficult behaviours in mental health patients. The questionnaires required responses as to whether the staffs are smokers, whether they want a smoke free environment, whether they make use of cigarette breaks on mental health patients and whether they believe it helps prevent difficult behaviour in mental health patients. The research finds that most emergency department staff use cigarette breaks for mental health patients to alleviate difficult behaviours. The staff members indicated that indeed the mental health patients became more aggressive when there is no use of the cigarette breaks. There was escalation of difficult behaviour in patients who were not given the cigarette breaks. The research also showed that most patients, one they are provided with cigarette breaks, cases of adverse events reduced. Self-harm attempts, aggression and use of illicit drugs, for example, reduced while absconding increased where mental health patients were provided with mental breaks. Despite the provision of mental health breaks to patients the study finds that most emergency department staff do not provide health patients with education on smoking cessation. Most of the staff however indicated that they would be willing to provide such educations to mental health patients. Barriers such as patient non-compliance and patient in crisis were identified as a bar to education to mental health patients. The study finds that exceptions should be made to the policy declaring hospitals as smoke-free area. Some respondents however indicated that it would be irresponsible to sacrifice the health of nurses who escort mental health patients to smoke. The emergency staff respondents indicated that they would prefer to provide cigarette breaks than risk aggression from patients. Mental health units should be exempted and should have smoking areas to reduce risk of difficult behaviour among mental health patients. The study also finds that a crisis is not the best time to start smoking cessation for mental health patients. The use of cigarette breaks for mental health patients was found to contribute to poor health and mortality among mental health patients. Evaluation The fact that the study focuses on the responses of the emergency department staffs who deals with the mental health patients ensures that the findings of the research address the issues arising from provision of cigarette breaks. Family members should however be interviewed to allow comparison between their responses and those of the staff in regard to the effects of cigarette breaks on mental patients. 3. Exploring the hidden nature of gambling problems amongst people who are homeless Research paradigm The research is based on the outcome of the interaction between the researchers and the people with gambling and housing problems. It also includes responses and observations of service providers dealing with people with housing and gambling problems. The report falls under the anti-positivist research paradigm. Research methods and findings The study adopts a qualitative approach where the researchers conduct a survey covering the persons with housing and gambling problems and also collect views from service providers dealing with such people. The aim is to identify the link between homelessness of people and their gambling problems. The study conducts interviews with housing and gambling and other related issues service providers as well as interviews with people experiencing gambling and housing problems. The study also involved a focus group with people experiencing homelessness and gambling. The research found that there is a link between homelessness and gambling among certain people. The link between homelessness and gambling however involves a range of co-occurring problems including mental illness, alcohol and other drug abuse, unemployment and relationship problems. The complexity of these issues makes it difficult to solve all the related issues hence they contribute to deeper problems to affected persons. The service providers and people affected by homelessness and gambling problems shed light on the hidden nature of gambling activities and gambling problems. The factors that were highlighted as the causes of this include the shame and stigma attached to having a gambling problem, the erosion of self-esteem and identity, and how people accessing services want to present themselves in a positive light. The fact that the affected persons were socially excluded and isolated emerged as a major concern. The result of this social exclusion is that people affected by homelessness ended up going to gaming venues as a way to socially connect with others, and as a way to escape problems, even for a brief moment. Gambling, to them, was a source of a range of social and material benefits often not accessible to them on their day to day lives for example shelter, comfort, enjoyment, social connections, a sense of purpose, belonging and wellbeing. Gambling was viewed as a way of escaping from the difficult circumstances and problems that they dealt with each day. The negative social attitudes that are associated with both gambling and housing problems lead to stigma to those affected hence they respond by trying to conceal their problems. The service providers recommended additional affordable accommodation, more early intervention strategies, better knowledge of services and community awareness campaigns, greater integration of services, and improved government funding as a way to curb the problem of homelessness and gambling. Evaluation The responses provided in the research based on personal experiences provided insightful information that aided in the coming up with the report covering the issues surrounding the link between homelessness and gambling problems. The research methods used involving personal interviews portrays an exact picture of the growth and rise of gambling among homeless people and assists in identifying the possible ways to remedy the situation. References Bagshaw, D., Wendt, S., Zannettino, L., & Adams, V. (2012). Financial abuse of older people by family members: Views and experiences of older Australians and their family members. Australian Social Work, 66(1), 86-103. doi: 10.1080/031240x2012.708762. Smith, R.G. (1999). Fraud and financial abuse of older persons. Current issues in crim. Just., 11, 273. Lachs, M.S., $ Pillemer, K. (2004). Elder abuse. The Lancet, 364(9441), 1263-1272. Donley, E. R. (2013). Managing risk of difficult behaviours in the hospital emergency department: The use of cigarette breaks mental health patients. Social Work in Mental Health, 12(1), 36-51. dii: 10.1080/15332985.2013.832716. Prochaska, J. J. (2011). Smoking and mental illness-breaking the link. New England Journal of medicine, 365(3), 196-198 Ratschen, E., Britton, J., Doody, G. A., Leonardi-Bee, J., & McNeill, A. (2009). Tobacco dependence, treatment and smoke free policies: a survey of mental health professionals’ knowledge and attitudes. General hospital psychiatry, 31(6), 576-582. Holdworth, L., & Tiyce, m. (2012). Exploring the hidden nature of gambling problems amongst people who are homeless. Australian Social Work, 65(4), 474-489. doi: 10.1080/0312407x.2012.689309. Shaffer, H. J., & Korn, D. A. (2002). Gambling and related mental disorders: A public health analysis. Annual Review of Public Health, 23, 171-212. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW] (2009). Problem Gambling among those Seeking Homelessness Services (Cat. no. HOU 215). Canberra: AIHW. Read More

Evaluation The fact that the research paper is based on interviews form service providers, family members and older people signifies that the data contained therein is accurate and reliable. It is based on the personal experiences of all the interviewees hence lessening the chances for manipulation of data and information collected. The research paper however ought to have compared abuse of older people by the family members compared to the service providers. It should also have considered the risks of abuse associated with people under the care of service providers. 2. Managing risk of difficult behaviours in the hospital emergency department: The use of cigarette breaks mental health patients.

Research paradigm The research uses the anti-positivist research paradigm and is based responses to questionnaires submitted to staff from the emergency department. The researchers interact with staff from the emergency department at a personal level to identify whether they utilise cigarette breaks as a means of alleviating or preventing difficult behaviours in mental health patients. Research methods and findings The research uses the quantitative and qualitative methods of research to collect information on which the study is conducted.

The responses indicated in the research are as a result of interviews conducted on emergency department staff dealing with mental patients. The staff members are given questionnaires about their use of cigarette breaks to prevent difficult behaviours in mental health patients. The questionnaires required responses as to whether the staffs are smokers, whether they want a smoke free environment, whether they make use of cigarette breaks on mental health patients and whether they believe it helps prevent difficult behaviour in mental health patients.

The research finds that most emergency department staff use cigarette breaks for mental health patients to alleviate difficult behaviours. The staff members indicated that indeed the mental health patients became more aggressive when there is no use of the cigarette breaks. There was escalation of difficult behaviour in patients who were not given the cigarette breaks. The research also showed that most patients, one they are provided with cigarette breaks, cases of adverse events reduced. Self-harm attempts, aggression and use of illicit drugs, for example, reduced while absconding increased where mental health patients were provided with mental breaks.

Despite the provision of mental health breaks to patients the study finds that most emergency department staff do not provide health patients with education on smoking cessation. Most of the staff however indicated that they would be willing to provide such educations to mental health patients. Barriers such as patient non-compliance and patient in crisis were identified as a bar to education to mental health patients. The study finds that exceptions should be made to the policy declaring hospitals as smoke-free area.

Some respondents however indicated that it would be irresponsible to sacrifice the health of nurses who escort mental health patients to smoke. The emergency staff respondents indicated that they would prefer to provide cigarette breaks than risk aggression from patients. Mental health units should be exempted and should have smoking areas to reduce risk of difficult behaviour among mental health patients. The study also finds that a crisis is not the best time to start smoking cessation for mental health patients.

The use of cigarette breaks for mental health patients was found to contribute to poor health and mortality among mental health patients. Evaluation The fact that the study focuses on the responses of the emergency department staffs who deals with the mental health patients ensures that the findings of the research address the issues arising from provision of cigarette breaks. Family members should however be interviewed to allow comparison between their responses and those of the staff in regard to the effects of cigarette breaks on mental patients. 3.

Read More