Impact of Alcohol Abuse on Mental Health of Indigenous Females

Running head: RESEARCH PAPER 1
Research Paper
Name
Institution

RESEARCH PAPER 2
Research Paper
The nursing profession is an economic area that is plagued with many challenges and
issues (González, Castelló Badia, & Font, 2014). These challenges and issues should always be
dealt with, an activity that requires nursing professionalism. Dikmen, Karataş, Arslan, and Ak
(2016) outline some of the attributes of nursing professionalism such as autonomy, educational
preparation, research participation, and so forth. The attribute of interest in this paper is research
participation because it is at the epicentre of evidence-based healthcare (Jones, 2015). In this
regard, this paper aims to undertake a systematic review of primary research, utilizing a PICO
(T) designed a clinical research question.
Research Question
The research question of interest in this paper is what impact does alcohol abuse have on
the mental health of indigenous females? This research question was developed using the PICO
(T) framework. Abbade, Wang, Sriganesh, Mbuagbaw, and Thabane (2016) highlight that PICO
(T) is a framework that can be used to frame or shape research questions. It stands for Population
or Patient Problem, Intervention or Exposure, Comparator, Outcome, and Timeframe (Abbade et
al., 2016). In this case, the population was identified as indigenous females (P) who are exposed
to alcohol abuse (I). Finding the impact of such exposure on the mental health (O) of the
population assists in formulating the entire research question. When considering this
information, it is evident that the research question was developed using only specific elements
of the PICO (T) framework.
Evaluation of Research
One article worth talking about because of its association with the research question is
that written by Heffernan, Davidson, Andersen, and Kinner (2016). The article’s main purpose

RESEARCH PAPER 3
was to depict the prevalence, kind, and mental well-being associates of substance utilization
ailments in an extensive sample of detained Native Australians (Heffernan et al., 2016). The
fulfilment of this purpose was dependent on the article’s findings, ethics, process, and research
design, all of which can be qualified as outstanding. The research design and process involved
the use of a diagnostic questionnaire and interview to collect the required information from a
sample of three hundred and ninety-six indigenous people.
Even though the sample comprised of both males and females, this paper focuses on the
sixty-five participants who were women. The ethical aspect of the article is also evident and
outstanding. The article managed to consider the moral element when undertaking the
investigation. Relevant authorities approved the several parts of the article such as design and
process. Furthermore, consent to participate in the research was sought and obtained (Heffernan
et al., 2016). All these exemplary aspects of the article managed to make the findings
exceptional. They can as well be used to inform future investigations. The findings included the
fact that many indigenous women suffer from mental illnesses such as suicidal thoughts and
attempts, psychotic disorder, depression, and anxiety due to alcohol abuse.
Research Topic
From the information already given above, the research topic is obvious. It concentrates
on specific concepts or issues that when combined bring forth the entire subject of interest. For
instance, some of those concepts or issues include alcohol abuse, mental health, indigenous
women, and so forth. In this regard, the research topic seems to suggest that many indigenous
women abuse alcohol. This scenario can always lead to various negative effects on the mental
health of such individuals. This information, therefore, shapes the research topic of interest,
which is the impact of alcohol abuse on the mental health of indigenous women. Each of the

RESEARCH PAPER 4
concepts or issues stipulated above, in one way or the other, holds a section or plays a part in the
establishment of the research topic. They, therefore, aids in this description of the research topic.
The research topic described above associates with enhancing health outcomes for
individuals with chronic conditions. The chronic conditions being talked about in this case
include mental illnesses as was already mentioned earlier. Since this topic intends to identify and
pinpoint the impacts of alcohol abuse on the mental health of indigenous women, it can assist in
ensuring that the population of interest acquire the knowledge and information concerning that
adverse effects of abusing alcohol. The acquisition of such info and knowledge can make the
indigenous women change their habits and start refraining from alcohol abuse, an occurrence that
can assist in handling their mental illnesses. In this regard, this research topic can improve health
outcomes of chronic conditions.
Literature Review
Even though only one article has been talked about above as being related to the research
question and topic, it is worth noting that many others exist that can assist in answering the
research question as well as providing evidence that can impact on health outcomes of patients
and future nursing practice. The findings of Heffernan et al. (2016) are already stated above.
They can make future nursing practice better by highlighting the need for alcohol abuse
regulation as the first means of dealing with various mental illnesses like the ones mentioned in
that particular article. In this regard, this regulation can assist in improving the health outcomes
of patients. Additionally, when Waterworth, Pescud, Braham, Dimmock, and Rosenberg (2015)
were investigating the elements influencing health conduct of indigenous factions, they managed
to highlight many factors. Even so, this paper concentrates on one finding, which is harmful
health risk conduct like abusing alcohol contributes significantly to mental disorders as well as