Exploring the Experience of Caregivers in Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients: A Critical Analysis

Health Research
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Introduction:
Rehabilitation in the stroke patients should be patient centred and experience of the
caregivers need to be explored. Exploration of the experience of the caregivers can be
effectively achieved by conducting studies to explore experience of the caregivers. Decision
on robustness and validity of the study can be decided by critically apprising research article.
This essay will critically compare, analyse and assess experiences of caregivers in the
rehabilitation of the stroke patients. In this essay, quality of the research paper will critically
examine the authors, purpose of the study, study design, study methodology and results.
Moreover, this essay will also explore rigour and validity of the research.
Discussion:
All the authors mentioned in the research article were with relevant experience to conduct the
research study. These authors were affiliated to the recognised organisation where they
conducted research. These authors didn’t have any conflict of interests. All the authors
contributed significantly to the research. Additional author like statistician could have been
incorporated in the study.
In this research article, efforts were being made to answer the clinical question. From the
clinical scenario, research question was set as
“How may a caregiver effectively support a (67 year old female) family member with her acti
vities of daily living following a stroke?”.
Clinical question set from the clinical scenario was in line with the aim of the research study.
Aim of this research study was to explore the experience of informal caregiver in activities of
daily living of stroke patients.
Mixed methods of research design comprise of integrated qualitative and quantitative
research methods. This mixed method of research design is usually implemented when
integrated research design produce more valid and productive outcome in comparison to
either of the research methods. Along with qualitative and quantitative research, analysis also
included in this mixed method of research design. Quantitative methods generally comprise
of experiments and surveys and qualitative methods usually comprises of focus groups and
interviews. In this research study, quantitative methods were implemented for comparison
with other studies and with other samples and qualitative methods were implemented for
understanding perception of the caregivers about stroke rehabilitation. Quantitative research
design of this research study include comparison among different samples and studies. This
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comparative research design indicates descriptive research design. Descriptive study include
observational study and variables are not being controlled in this study (Schneider et al.,
2016). In this descriptive research design both longitudinal design and cross-sectional design
can be used; however, in this study longitudinal design was being used because in this study
same samples were being used over the period of time. In this study, longitudinal design was
more appropriate because in this study design, alteration in the perceptions of same caregiver
over the time period can easily be analysed. Switching of participants and their switching
back again can be analysed in this study design. It indicates, longitudinal design is more fit in
comparison to the cross-sectional research design in this research study (Hoffmann et al.,
2017).
Mixed method of research design can be helpful in balancing strengths and weaknesses of
both qualitative and quantitative research designs. Findings can be explained in more
elaborative way and relationship can be established among findings through mixed methods
of research. These research methods are more complex in comparison to either of the
methods and these methods require more time and plan for its implementation. It is difficult
to resolve discrepancies arise due to variability of results obtained due to either of the
methods. Prior to implementation of the mixed method of research, following points need to
be considered like purpose of the research like exploration or generalization, specificity of
research question and strengths and weakness of either research design. In this research
design, sequential exploratory design was implemented with initiation of qualitative data
collection and analysis followed by quantitative data collection and analysis (Greenhalgh et
al., 2017; Punch, 2013).
This study was based on secondary analysis of data from the prospective observational study.
In this study, random sampling was being used. In this method of sampling every participant
has equal chance of being recruited in the study. Sampling method can also be considered as
purposive sampling method because in this sampling method sample being selected based on
the preselected criteria. Samples selected in this study were appropriate in meeting aim of the
study. Inclusion and exclusion criteria need to be mentioned in the research article.
Incorporation of inclusion and exclusion criteria, can be helpful in defining sample universe,
improving decision making in sample selection, identifying characteristics of samples and
reducing variability of the sample selection. However, in this article only inclusion criteria
were included; however, exclusion criteria were not included (Bernard, 2012; Creswell,
2013).
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