Critical Review of Qualitative Research on Dignity in Acute Care Environment for Older Patients

This critical review evaluates the appropriateness of research design, recruitment strategy, data collection, data analysis, and statement of findings of a qualitative research on dignity in acute care environment for older patients. The study used semi-structured interviews to collect data from 13 patients and 38 healthcare professionals. The research findings highlighted the need for systematic dignity-related training for healthcare professionals to reduce breaches of patient dignity. The study contributes to the current understanding of the topic and paves the way for future research.

Critical review of qualitative research

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3. Was the research design appropriate to address the aims of research?
Yes.
The research design comprises of a semi-structured interview conducted on the older patients
and the health professionals. This interview method is appropriate as it is essential to gain deeper
understanding about the perspectives of the patients and healthcare staffs regarding the
maintenance of dignity in the acute care environment (Brodtkorb, Skisland, Slettebø & Skaar,
2017). This interview process would help the researcher to extract needful information from the
target participants. With the help of semi-structured interview, the researcher was able to gain
sufficient information from the patients and the health officials regarding the dignity of the
patients during treatment. The research design navigated the research process towards the proper
path through which needful research data could be extracted by analysing the information given
by the participants in interview. The research design allowed smooth flow of information with
higher level of accuracy as the participants comprised of the service users and the service
providers.
4. Was the recruitment strategy appropriate to the aims of the research?
Yes.
To conduct the interview process, the researcher undertook a purposive sampling technique to
shortlist the research participants. Purposive sampling is conducted in accordance to the research
objectives (Robinson, 2014). As the objective indicates towards older people in acute care
environment, the researcher adopted purposive sampling as the sampling technique for this
study. Sampling size was 38 healthcare professionals and 13 patients older than 65 years. This
sampling technique is widely adopted by the researchers for qualitative study. To ensure that the
research design seamlessly reaches its destination, a number of inclusion criteria were followed
(Malterud, Siersma & Guassora, 2016). The researcher ensured that the patients who are being
part of the interview are more than 65 years old, having a good command over English language,
and are capable of taking part in the interview process.
5. Was the data collected in a way that addressed the research issue?
Yes.

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This study required information regarding the dignity of the older patients in hospitals. Thereby,
semi-structured interview was adopted to bring out most relevant information from the patients
as well as the healthcare professionals. Dignity is not only a matter of the patient; the healthcare
staffs are equally responsible for handling the dignity of the patients. The hospital authority must
keep a watchful eye to ensure that the patients are getting dignified care (McCormack &
McCance, 2016). The data collection technique was mainly semi-structured interview conducted
on participants who were 13 patients of 65-91 years, and 38 healthcare professionals. The
interviews were recorded by the researcher so that there is no error in evaluation of the data.
Field notes played a significant role as well because it enables the researcher to gain most
relevant information from the interview. Data saturation was ensured as the data collection
technique was prominent and capable of extracting most accurate information needed for the
study (Palinkas et al. 2015). Collaborative discussion proved to be effective for the research
process as it enabled smooth flow of data. Summary of each of the interview was prepared and
handed over to the respective participants of the interview. Also, each of the participants was
provided with follow-up telephonic interview. Prior to the interview, the participants were
guided thoroughly so that the data collection technique bears the most effective outcome. Written
consent was obtained from each of the participants before starting the interview. Moreover,
interview took place on a mutually agreed time and venue.
8. Was the data analysis sufficiently rigorous?
Yes.
The data analysis was clear and did justice to the research study. The chosen pragmatic thematic
analysis was appropriate for the research study. The transcribed research data obtained from the
interview was read and re-read by two researchers. Codes were created for those data and the
similar codes were arranged to be kept together to make the further assessment easier. The
researchers analysed the data and found relevant themes for different codes. This transformation
made the data analysis less complex. The review of the themes was of much importance as
themes are the backbone of this type of data analysis method (Vaismoradi, Jones, Turunen &
Snelgrove, 2016). At last the themes were named and described in accordance to its functions.
The exchange of mails between the researchers helped them to gain the most effective result.
Larger study information was considered as an important source of relevant research content.

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The coding framework was helpful to address the issues regarding trustworthiness and rigour.
The data analysis highlighted the major implications of this study and the interview data helped
to understand the prevailing situation of the healthcare sector regarding the patient’s dignity. The
contradictory data was taken into account as well to make the research error-free.
9. Is there a clear statement of findings?
Yes.
Research findings of this data are clear and concise and much helpful to meet the aim of
determining the level of dignified care in an acute care environment for older patients. Three
main themes were generated which is considered as key findings of the study. The researcher has
successfully argued to formulate the most prominent outcome. Both positive and negative data
was analysed by the researcher to draw an integrated format of research findings. The research
also contained sufficient evidences which reflected the authenticity of the findings. As findings
are considered as the primary foundation of a research, the researcher has ensured that the
findings are correct and reliable. As the research data was obtained and analysed by more than
one researcher, it can be said that there is no chances of errands. Also, the participants were
provided with summary of their interview sessions, the participants were able to come across
their answers and were able to share their concern regarding the same (Dickson, Riddell,
Gilmour & McCormack, 2017). This provided the researchers with the respondent’s validation,
which directs towards the credibility of the research study. Triangulation also enabled more
credibility on the part of data findings.
10. How valuable is the research?
The research has been able to produce an effective outcome which comprises of the responses
obtained from the patient regarding safeguarding of their dignity. The positive responses reflect
that the situation is gradually improving. Again, the negative response signifies that there is still
room for further improvement in this sector. It has been assessed that the dignity of the patient is
still a problem for the older patients. Despite of certain nurse or care givers being cooperative
and considerate, there are nurses who are not considerate enough regarding the dignity of the
patients. In most of the cases these nurses or care givers are poorly trained. Systematic dignity
related training is highly essential for the healthcare professionals so that the cases of breach of

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dignity can be reduced (Lohne et al. 2017). Although this research highlights considerable
amount of data regarding the study, it is understood that this topic of patient’s dignity requires
more researches. This topic is having a depth which cannot be fulfilled by one or few studies.
More studies are required in future to cover all the aspects of dignified care in acute care
environment. This research has contributed immensely to the current study. Moreover, the
research paved the way of the potential future studies regarding this topic.

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