Critique of Quantitative Research on Care Delays in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Research Critique worksheet – quantitative (Adapted from Daggett et al (2005), using Caldwell et al (2005)
Optional Critique Evidence
Does title reflect content?
The title of the research reflects the content.
However, the title doesn’t expressly show the
place where the study is to be conducted
It indicates the characteristics of the subjects under
investigation “patients with signs and symptoms of acute
myocardial infarction”, and the objective which is to
examine the care delays that they experience According to
Caldwell et al. (2005), these features indicate that the title
is a reflection of the content.
Are authors credible? The author of the study is credible. She is an assistant professor in nursing at Georgia Southern
University. the article has been peer-reviewed by external
professionals and accepted for publication
Does abstract summarize key
points?
The abstract succinctly summarises the main
areas of the study.
Main area of the study: namely the aim, methods, results,
and conclusion. According to Caldwell et al. (2005)
critiquing framework, these features make the study
credible.
Is the rationale clear? The researcher has presented the rationale of
the study in the background section
Studies have also indicated that an association exists
between timely intervention and better results (Atzema et
al. 2011). However, delays in emergency care are still
evident among AMI patients. Research has been carried out
on triage delays (Weber, McAlpine, and Grimes, 2011), in
acquiring ECGs (Atzema et al., 2009) but still the cause for
these delays is yet to be studied
Is literature review clear and
up-to-date?
The literature review is equally clear and up-
to-date and covers a wide range of literature
relevant to the topic under study
Prevalence of the disease and the existing medication
approaches.
Significance of prompt care to patients with AMI
symptoms.
Author cites the most current references not older than ten
years (Sanders, 2017).
Is aim of study clear? The aim of the study has clearly been stated
and described
“To explore the factors related to time to triage and time to
ECG in patients with signs and symptoms of AMI”. The

aim of the study has clearly been stated and described and
the research gap identified. The critique framework by
Caldwell et al. (2005) reports a clear description of the
study aim to consist of identifying a research gap.
Are all ethical issues
considered?
The study adequately considered all ethical
issues associated with the study.
ethical approval from the university’s institutional review
board privacy and confidentiality of the participants
Informed consent of the participants was obtained. Fouka
and Mantzorou (2011) cites ethical considerations to
include ethical approval, informed consent among others
Is methodology identified and
justified?
The methodology of the study has been
identified but not justified
The research indicates that it is a retrospective correlational
study, the procedures followed in collecting data, analysis
and presentation have also been presented.
The inclusion and exclusion criteria have also been
adequately described. This minimises the possibility of
selection bias and improves the validity of the findings
(Pannucci and Wilkins, 2010).
Essential Critique Evidence
Is the study design clearly
identified, and is the rationale
for choice of design evident?
The author has identified the study design as a
retrospective correlational design but no
evidence of justification for the selection
whatsoever
Creswell and Creswell (2017) reported that the most
appropriated research design should be selected, one that
will ensure that the objectives of the study are achieved
Is the hypothesis clearly stated? The study did not state any hypothesis.
However, it can be inferred from both the aim
and rationale of the study
Barr et al. (2013) note that a study hypothesis ensures that
the whole process of research remains scientific and
reliable. Thus, lack of hypothesis in the study increases the
risk of deviating from the aim of the study and therefore
compromising its reliability.
Are the key variables defined? The study has identified and described critical
variables in the research
The dependent variables included the time taken from
checking in to ED triage and to retrieve an ECG, whereas

the independent variables comprised of the demographic
profiles of the participants. Garson (2012) expounds that
variables are critical in quantitative research because they
help to measure concepts in the analysis. The identification
of variables in the study will, therefore, help in ascertaining
the relationship between timely interventions and improved
results in the treatment of AMI symptoms.
Is the population identified? The study population has also been identified
and described
559 records of patients presented with AMI signs and
symptoms in addition to emergency department nurses.
Additionally, Polit and Beck (2010) posit that a description
of the study population in quantitative research strengthens
generalizability because similar methodology can be
replicated in the setting with relatively identical population
features.
Is the sample described and
does this reflect the population?
The author has also described the sample of the
study
By proving a detailed description of the inclusion and
exclusion criteria and the number that met the inclusion
criteria to be 286 out of 559 records that were searched.
Mugenda and Mugenda (2012) opine that a sample size of
10% of the population is an adequate representation. The
sample size is over 50% of the study population thus it
adequately represented the population.
Is the method of data collection
valid and reliable?
The method of data collection was through
electronic search.
The method of data collection was through electronic
search. This approach is valid and reliable because it
allows the researcher to restrict the search to the inclusion
criteria (Chow, 2015).
Is the method of analysis valid
and reliable?
The method of analysis are valid and reliable Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse
data using Predictive Analytics Software (PAWS).
Descriptive and inferential statistics are analytical and
standard procedures that help to present findings accurately

Quantitative Research 4
(Atzema et al., 2009) but still the cause for these delays is yet to be studied. Dallaire et al.
(2012) also assessed the experience of nurses and the precision of decisions based upon
triage. However, no specific research has been conducted to evaluate the experience of nurses
in the triage delays and in obtaining ECGs for patients diagnosed with AMI symptoms and
signs.
The literature review is equally clear and up-to-date and covers a wide range of literature
relevant to the topic under study. The author first provides the prevalence of the disease and
the existing medication approaches. Then using previous studies, the author shows the
significance of prompt care to patients with AMI symptoms. Earlier studies on various
aspects of the research have also been examined to provide in-depth background information
on the area of study. Moreover, the author cites the most current references not older than ten
years as at and when the study was conducted (Sanders, 2017). Thus, through the literature
review, the author has disclosed the existing research gap and the importance of filling it.
The aim of the study has clearly been stated and described. Besides the author indicating the
importance of the study by demonstrating the existence of a research gap, she has described
the aim of the research and then explicitly stated it, which is “to explore the factors related to
time to triage and time to ECG in patients with signs and symptoms of AMI” (Sanders,
2017). The critique framework by Caldwell et al. (2005) reports a clear description of the
study aim to consist of identifying a research gap.
The study adequately considered all ethical issues associated with the study. The study
obtained ethical approval from the university’s institutional review board. The study also
ensured that the privacy and confidentiality of the participant patients were protected. The
electronic data file which was used in the analysis did not have any identification of the
nurses or patients, and it was stored in a computer with limited access and password-