Quantitative Research Article Report

Running head: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ARTICLE APPRAISAL 1
Quantitative Research Article Appraisal
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QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH ARTICLE APPRAISAL 2
Quantitative Research Article Appraisal
Evidence from research has been used to ascertain specific concepts in healthcare. Findings from
evidence-based analyses have provided critical insights and decision baseline when creating strategic measures
in healthcare delivery. However, it is important to evaluate the reliability and validity of the findings by
conducting a comprehensive appraisal of the research. This excerpt provides a critical appraisal of research by
Moran, O’Loughin, and Kelly (2018) on the effects of SMS reminders on the clinic attendance at a local adult
mental health facility.
Moran, O’Loughin, and Kelly (2018) collected data from tow healthcare facilities dealing with mental
health services in Dublin, Ireland. The data was obtained from Ballyfermot and Lucan Community Adult
Mental Health Service. The outpatient data were obtained before the introduction of SMS reminders, after the
introduction of the reminders, and after two and a half years later. The approach adopted for participant
sampling was purposive since the researchers focused on appointments to adult mental health services. Data
from obtained from 2170, 2092, and 2474 appointments for the first, second, and third phases respectively.
Moran, O’Loughin, and Kelly (2018) worked with a large data sample, which is associated with a high level of
reliability. The study compared the appointments issued and the number of attendance and non-attendance.
There were no questionnaires used in this study.
Moran, O’Loughin, and Kelly (2018) has a comprehensive ethics consideration framework because they
first sought the authorization to use the mental health service data in these facilities. By focusing on the
attendance rate and not on patients’ private data, the research met the ethical requirements.
Moran, O’Loughin, and Kelly (2018) adopted a quantitative approach to analyze and interpret the
findings. The scholars used a comparative approach to determine whether there was a difference between the
attendance rate before the introduction of the SMS reminders and when this approach was implemented. The
scholars further compared the experimental and control groups to ascertain the role and implication of SMS
reminders. The analysis approach was effective because it included the period before and after the SMS

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reminder was introduced. At the same time, there was an experimental and control group, which enhances the
validity of the findings.
In this study, there is one major limitation. The study by Moran, O’Loughin, and Kelly (2018) lacked
data consistency to determine whether indeed SMS reminders had an impact on attendance. There is no clear
evidence that shows the study used data from the same group of patients across the entire two and a half years
period.
The scholars found out that before the introduction of SMS reminders, there was a 22.2% non-
attendance, which reduced to 13.9% within the six months. At the same time, attendance cancelation through
SMS stood at 73%. There was no difference between the group that received reminders and those that did not in
terms of the rate of non-attendance. In this case, the introduction of the reminders offered the patients an
opportunity to cancel their appointment in time to enable the hospital to capitalize on created chances to
maximize service delivery. It was possible to show the lack of a relationship between SMS reminders and
attendance rates because of the method of data analysis adopted in this study.
From the findings of this study, it is evident that reminders do not encourage attendance but offers the
opportunity for those who are not going to honor appointments to inform the hospital, which allows for more
appointments to be made. In this case, the findings ascertain how reminders could be used to optimize adult
mental health services delivery by allowing practitioners to capitalize on each available appointment
opportunity.

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References
Moran, L., O’Loughin, K., & Kelly, B. D. (2018). The effect of SMS (text message) reminders on attendance at
a community adult mental health service clinic: Do SMS reminders really increase attendance? Ir J Med
Sci., 187(3), 561 – 564. DOI: 10.1007/s11845-017-1710-0.