Critical Appraisal Assignment 2022

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CRITICAL APPRAISAL ASSIGNMENT
Student name:
Student number:
Name of the university
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Full references
Day, N., Criss, J., Griffiths, B., Gujral, S. K., John-Leader, F., Johnston, J., & Pit, S.
(2018). Music festival attendees’ illicit drug use, knowledge and practices regarding
drug content and purity: a cross-sectional survey. Harm reduction journal, 15(1), 1.
Introduction
Incidences related to drug abuse has emerged as one of the major concern around the
world as studies conducted by Mohr et al. (2018) has indicated towards the involvement
of drugs in the world famous music festivals such as New York festivals, EDM festival
and tomorrow land. As per Busis et al. (2017), involvement of drugs and other harmful
products has become a modern trend and the younger generation. Therefore, the
primary purpose of this assignment is to carry out the critical appraisal of one such
research article by Day et al. (2018) that presents evidence related to the connection
between these two aspects.
PART A – Critical appraisal
Authorship
The authors conducted this research study are Niamh Day, Joshua Criss,
Benjamin Griffiths, Shireen Kaur Gujral, Franklin John-Leader, Jennifer Johnston and
Sabrina Pit. As mentioned in the research, equal associated of all these authors were
involved in the conduction of this research process (Day et al., 2018). The duties were
divided among these authors equally and Niamh Day, Joshua Criss, Benjamin Griffiths,
Shireen Kaur Gujral conducted the data collection, data analysis process as well as in
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the drafting in the manuscript (Day et al., 2018). Several researchers, for example Shea
et al. (2017) has indicated towards the fact that while conducting research, conflict of
interests is one general aspect that occurs and could also affect the research findings
by increasing critical confusion in the data analysis. Despite that, the research
conducted by Day et al. (2018), had no conflict of interest among the authors and hence
it indicated towards effective research that was conducted by Day et al. (2018).
Research questions, aim and hypothesis
The primary aim of the research conducted by Day et al. (2018) is to understand
the pattern and proportion of the illicit drug usage among the younger generation so that
the usage of drugs in the music festivities could be understood. Further, it also aimed to
understand the potential drug checking and the frequency of drug used in music
festivals afterwards. As mentioned by Day et al. (2018), to understand the linkages
between the illicit drug use and music festivals it is important to understand the younger
generation and their views about the music festivals and the drugs that are distributed.
The author justified this research question by mentioning the rate that more than 8
million Australian younger generations accepted that they were associated with
substance abuse and within that 44% mentioned of their first drug consumption were in
music concerns.
Research designs
The researchers Day et al. (2918) conducted the primary research using the
qualitative study with surveys conducted to understand the connection of music festivals
in Australia and increased drug usage and abuse related reports. As the participants
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that were involved in the intoxicated state and were affected with the drug abuse,
conducting surveys involving healthcare professionals was an accurate method to find
out the research findings. Hence, this aspect was chosen as the primary research
method for this paper.
Research methods
Thos research process followed a quantitative study in which the primary aim of
the paper was to conduct a cross sectional survey with all the attendees of the music
concern so that with their answers, researchers can identify and analyse the research
findings. Therefore, the inclusion of participants in the survey was done based on their
ability to reply honestly, their own views about usage of drug and distribution in music
festivities, their demographics (Busis et al., 2017). The researchers provided enough
ability to the participants to express their views about the process and for this purpose;
they chose the famous music concert of Australia for two days, with 18 to 30 year old
participants. Further to maintain integrity of the research no stipend or incentive was
provided to the participants.
The strength and weakness of the chosen research article was its reliability, cost-
effective nature, versatility and Generalizability, due to which the applicability and
authentic of the paper remained intact. Further, while conducting the data analysis and
interpretation, it was seen that the analysis lacked depth and critical strength and
hence, this was termed as a weakness.
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Results and limitations
Through the result received from the complete critical appraisal conducted on the
paper of Day et al. (2018), it was observed that people that are associated with drug
consumption or are attending music programs could develop habit of consumption of
drugs in music therapy. Further within the age 18 to 30, majority of the respondents
mentioned of their association with illicit drug usage in the past and they also mentioned
that majority of the events of drug usage were associated with music concerts
throughout Australia (Mukherjea et al 2013). However, it was also observed that
majority of the participants indicated towards the fact that inclusion of drug checking in
concerts could enhance the illicit drug usage (Busis et al., 2013).
The limitations that were identified in the paper and these limitations could impact
upon the authenticity of the research process. It was seen that participants were
investigated about their past 12 month’s drug usage however their frequency,
depending upon which their addiction would be determined were not asked. Further the
rate of male and female were not mentioned in the paper (Busis et al., 2013).
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Part B
As mentioned by Mohr et al. (2018) music concerts and illicit drug usage are
interconnected due to which majority of the people are unable to join these programs.
Majority of the parents are concerned about their children’s involvement in the music
concerts as mentioned by Mukherjea et al. (2013). Similar aspects could be observed in
the case situation of Emily as in the case study, it was seen that her mother is
concerned about her visit to Melbourne music concert as she has heard about the
associated between music concerts and illicit drug usage. Further, this fact was proven
through the research of Day et al. (2018) in which they aimed to understand the
involvement of drug testing processes in the concert area. To understand the
involvement, total 642 participants were involved in the cross control qualitative survey
and after completion of the paper, throughout Australia, it was seen that music concerts
are associated with illicit drug testing and usage. However, as per my personal thinking,
there are presence of facilitators and barriers due to which either the research process
was able to find out the accurate results, or their research findings affected (Day et al.
2018).
Upon reflecting on the process, I would mention that multiple weaknesses present in the
study type and conducted method, the research findings of the article was affected. As
the researchers asked majorly close ended questions, the participants did not have
abilities to reflect upon their own experiences and provide accurate article (Day et al.
2018). However, they did not deny the fact that they experienced majority of the drug
during drug testing in the music concerts. Hence the concern of Emily’s mother is
genuine and thoughtful (Day et al. 2018).
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References
Busis, N. A., Shanafelt, T. D., Keran, C. M., Levin, K. H., Schwarz, H. B., Molano, J.
R., ... & Cascino, T. L. (2017). Burnout, career satisfaction, and well-being
among US neurologists in 2016. Neurology, 88(8), 797-808.
Day, N., Criss, J., Griffiths, B., Gujral, S. K., John-Leader, F., Johnston, J., & Pit, S.
(2018). Music festival attendees’ illicit drug use, knowledge and practices
regarding drug content and purity: a cross-sectional survey. Harm reduction
journal, 15(1), 1.
Mema, S. C., Sage, C., Xu, Y., Tupper, K. W., Ziemianowicz, D., McCrae, K., ... &
Corneil, T. (2018). Drug checking at an electronic dance music festival during the
public health overdose emergency in British Columbia. Canadian Journal of
Public Health, 109(5-6), 740-744.
Mohr, A. L., Friscia, M., Yeakel, J. K., & Logan, B. K. (2018). Use of synthetic stimulants
and hallucinogens in a cohort of electronic dance music festival
attendees. Forensic science international, 282, 168-178.
Mukherjea, A., Underwood, K. C., Stewart, A. L., Ivey, S. L., & Kanaya, A. M. (2013).
Asian Indian views on diet and health in the United States: importance of
understanding cultural and social factors to address disparities. Family &
community health, 36(4), 311.
Shea, B. J., Reeves, B. C., Wells, G., Thuku, M., Hamel, C., Moran, J., ... & Henry, D.
A. (2017). AMSTAR 2: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews that include
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randomised or non-randomised studies of healthcare interventions, or
both. Bmj, 358, j4008.
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