Introduction to Nursing Research | Essay

Running head: ESSAY
Introduction to nursing research
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

ESSAY1
Introduction- A research critique refers to an examination of a particular research,
primarily focusing on determination of its strengths and weaknesses (Cobb, Jackson &
Dunlap, 2016). In addition, critiquing encompasses a systematic procedure for assessing the
aims, methodology and results of a particular study. This assignment will cover a critique of
two qualitative research articles.
Background- The aim of the research by Luangasanatip et al. (2015) was to assess the
relative efficacy of the WHO-5 campaign, and other interventions, in relation to promotion of
hand hygiene amid healthcare workers across hospital settings. The researchers also aimed to
summarize associated information on usage of resources. The significance of this research
can be accredited to the fact that numerous patients are subjected to healthcare associated
infections (HAIs) that increases rate of mortality and morbidity. Therefore, the researchers
tried to evaluate whether the WHO-5 is effective in increase adherence of the healthcare
workers to hand hygiene protocols, which in turn would prove beneficial for the prevention
of infections. The study by Srigley, Furness and Gardam (2016) was conducted in order to
assess the effectiveness of patient hand hygiene interventions, in relation to reduction of HAI
and improvement of hand hygiene rates amid patients, when compared to usual care. The
study was based on the premise that patients often acquire nosocomial pathogens from
unclean hands, which increases infection rates and deteriorates health and wellbeing. The
significance of the research can be accredited to the fact that it tried to identify interventions
that are most beneficial in decreasing HAI incidence, which would thereby improve health
outcomes of patients.
Support the practice issue- The PICO question formulated in the previous assignment
was as follows:

ESSAY2
In patients admitted to hospitals, how effective is alcohol based hand sanitizer
compared to soap and water, in controlling nosocomial infection or cross infection during
their length of stay?
Both the selected articles are relevant to the aforementioned question since they focus
on the prevalence of nosocomial infections in healthcare settings, and recognized the fact that
direct contact between healthcare workers and patients acts as the major route of pathogen
transmission from different organisms. This in turn increases the likelihood of patients of
being infected and colonised. This can be accredited to the fact that healthcare workers are
most commonly contaminated with the pathogens. The article by Luangasanatip et al. (2015)
identified that usage of alcohol hand rub, together with soap and water are two common
interventions that are implemented for preventing HAI across hospitals. Likewise, Srigley,
Furness and Gardam (2016) also stated that dispensing alcohol based hand rub to different
patients and supervising hand rubbing plays an important role in infection control. However,
the researchers did not focus on the effectiveness of using soap and water for hand cleaning.
Methodology- While the research by was a systematic review and meta-analysis, that
by was only a systematic review. Hence, the primary method of both the investigations was
the same. Luangasanatip et al. (2015) included articles from different electronic databases
like Medline, CINAHL, Embase, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, Cochrane Library,
NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, and the EPOC register. Articles published from
December 2009- February 2014 were included in the meta-analysis. In contrast, Srigley,
Furness and Gardam (2016) searched grey literature and electronic databases published till
August 2014 and included quasi-experimental and experimental studies. Systematic reviews
are defined as overview of primary articles that utilize reproducible and unambiguous
research methods. The major advantage of systematic reviews is that they critically appraise a
range of research studies, following which the findings are synthesized quantitatively or