Quantitative Market Research And Methodology

Running head: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH PROPOSAL: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER 3: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH PROPOSAL: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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Introduction
The following chapter will hence discuss on the proposed research methodologies and
data collective strategies to be considered with respect to acquiring answers concerning
evaluation of effectiveness of Dressilk © as compared to Biobrane © dressings for the purpose of
wound healing across burn patients with potential skin graft sites of partial thickness. In addition
to highlighting the key hypothetical underpinnings and research questions driving the proposed
study, this chapter will also expound upon the inclusion criteria and research settings to be
considered during participant selection. Lastly this chapter will succinctly shed light on relevant
data collection and analytical methods as well as ethical considerations to be maintained.
Study Aims and Objectives
As evidenced by the randomized control trial (RCT) by Schulz et al., (2016), patients
with burns of partial thickness, which are regions for potential skin grafting, require wound
dressings which instill optimum levels of metabolism, comfort and skin protection. Thus,
considering the same, manufacturers consider a range of properties for formulating the most
effective dressing. The ideal properties of such a dressing, as evidenced by Schulz et al., (2016),
include: the prevalence of natural materials which are cytocompatible and biocompatible, the
ability to reduce the transmission of disease and inflammation and thus, facilitate immunological
responses, retention of wound moisture levels, induce wound bed stabilization and facilitation of
rapid wound healing. The range of wound dressings which have been evidenced to comply to the
above extensive criteria, as evidenced by the randomized control trial implemented by Schiefer
et al., (2016) as well as Schulz et al., (2017), include Biobrane©, Dressilk© and a PolyMem©
wound dressings. While both Biobrane© and Dressilk© wound dressings have been researched
to induce considerable patient comfort and wound healing, there has been limited research

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specifically exploring the effectiveness of Dressilk © as compared to Biobrane© dressings in the
Singaporean healthcare context, which has thus, been the major rationale underlying this
proposed study. Treatment and care interventions administered for burn patients are often
multifaceted and associated with financial complications. Considering the cost effectiveness of
Dressilk© wound dressings, the findings of this proposed research will pave the way for
implementing cost effective and clinical beneficial wound healing option for burn patients across
Singaporean healthcare organizations (Schiefer et al., 2019). There is also limited research
concerning the effectiveness of Dressilk© wound dressings as compared to BioBrane© with
respect to the quality of life in burn patients post discharge. Considering the efficiency of both
types of dressings as per current research, the need to evaluate the best possible cost effective as
well as long term feasible option out of the two for improved quality of life in Singaporean burn
patients, thus formed an additional rationale for underlying this research proposal (Schiefer et al.,
2018).
Aim
Thus, the primary aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of Dressilk© as
compared to Biobrane© wound dressings for the purpose of facilitating cost effective,
comfortable and optimum wound healing across burn patients with skin drafting sites of partial
thickness.
Objectives
Thus, with respect to the above identified aim, the proposed study will be conducted
based on the following objectives:

3CHAPTER 3: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
1. To assess the effectiveness of Dressilk© as compared to Biobrane© wound dressings
with respect to wound healing factors like exudation, pain, dressing change, inflammation
, prevalence of complications or adverse consequences and the overall time required for
closure of wounds, across burn patients with skin drafting sites of partial thickness.
2. To assess the effectiveness of Dressilk© as compared to Biobrane© wound dressings
with respect to post discharge scar treatment across burn patients with skin drafting sites
of partial thickness.
3. To assess the effectiveness of Dressilk© as compared to Biobrane© wound dressings
with respect to improvements in quality of life (QOL) post-discharge across burn patients
with skin drafting sites of partial thickness.
4. To assess the cost effectiveness of Dressilk© as compared to Biobrane© wound dressings
with respect to pre and post discharge expenditures across burn patients with skin
drafting sites of partial thickness.
Hypothesis
With respect to the above identified aims and objectives, the proposed research will thus
be based upon the following hypothesis:
1. Alternative hypothesis: Dressilk © wound dressings demonstrate higher effectiveness as
compared to Biobrane © with respect to wound healing, post discharge scar treatment,
improved quality of life and cost effectiveness across burn patients with skin drafting
sites of partial thickness.
2. Null hypothesis: Dressilk © wound dressings do not demonstrate higher effectiveness as
compared to Biobrane © with respect to wound healing, post discharge scar treatment,

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improved quality of life and cost effectiveness across burn patients with skin drafting
sites of partial thickness.
Study Settings
The proposed study will be implemented across a local healthcare organization situated in
Singapore which offers a trauma department or burn unit specializing in the provision of wound
healing services for burn patients. A quasi-experimental design will be adopted as the preferred
study design for this proposed research. A quasi experimental study is characterized by a
research which explore the comparative effectiveness of multiple clinical interventions, without
however, practicing any control group (Waddington et al., 2017). Considering that this research
proposed to comprehensive evaluate the effectiveness between Dressilk © and Biobrane © type
wound dressings, administering a quasi-experimental research design would be of relevance to
the identified research topic. Quasi-experimental studies commonly involve the evaluation of
clinical outcomes before and after implementation of selected interventions (McKinley et al.,
2017). With this respect, the identified objectives of the proposed research will be evaluated with
in the form of a pre and post-test based pilot study design, comprising of evaluating burn
patients’ wound status, financial feasibility and quality of life before and after administration of
Dressilk © and BioBrane © type wound dressings.
Despite the relevance associated with a quasi-experimental design concerning evaluation
of intervention effectiveness, there continues to be criticism concerning the absence of
randomization. Randomized controlled trials are considered to demonstrate the methodological
quality of the highest validity due to the prevalence of randomization and reduced possibility of
bias (Cooper et al., 2018). However, randomized controlled trials may not be the most feasible
study designs with respect to the cost effectiveness and acceptability of interventions associated

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with evaluation of novel clinical intervention across healthcare organizations (Wang, Zhang &
Ahn, 2017). It is worthwhile to denote that Dressillk © wound dressings are not easily available
across pharmaceutical outlets in Singapore and can only be acquired online. Additionally, while
there is extensive evidence demonstrating the usage of Biobrane © as a wound dressing across
Singaporean healthcare organizations, there is limited knowledge concerning the prevalence,
benefits and acceptance associated Dressilk © wound dressing within the Singaporean context
(Feng et al., 2018). Thus, conducting a large scale, RCT may not be the most feasible option with
respect to financial constraints and organizational acceptability towards novel wound dressing
interventions. Thus, implementing a pre and post intervention based quasi-experimental pilot
study would be the most relevant option after the gold standard of RCTs for evaluation of this
proposed research due to its cost effectiveness as well as ability to yield outcomes which can
facilitate the implementation of large scale future research.
Sampling
Study Sample, Inclusion and Exclusion
The sample for the proposed research will comprise of participants who are burn patients
admitted to the trauma or burn unit of a local healthcare organization located in Singapore. The
proposed research will also be conducted in collaboration with healthcare professionals
specializing in the treatment of this patients for the purpose of delivering specific wound
dressings as per the proposed research topic. Participants will be include in the study based on
the following criteria for inclusion: those who in the age of 18 years or above and are in sound
physical as well as mental state, require the harvesting of a skin graft with a minimum thickness
of 5cm x 15 cm and those who provide their consent for participating in the study as well as in
the pre and post intervention examinations. Subsequently, participants who will not adhere to the

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above inclusion criteria and demonstrating compliance to the following exclusion criteria will
not be considered for participation: those who do not give their consent to participate in the
research as well as in the pre and post intervention examination, females who are pregnant or
lactating, are inflicted with acute illnesses, have reported any form of allergy towards wound
dressings, are inflicted with dysfunctional blood clotting mechanisms and skin injuries due to
prolonged cortisone therapy.
Sample Size
A significance value of p = 0.05 and confidence interval of 95% will be considered for
the proposed research based on the identified alternative and null hypothesis. With this respect,
taking a minimum expected difference of 0.05, power of 0.80 and an estimated standard
deviation of 0.06, the sample size of the proposed study was calculated to be 45 (see Appendix).
Burn patients, meeting the above identified inclusion criteria will be equally divided across each
of the two intervention groups of Dressilk © and Biobrane © wound dressings. Following the
same, the healthcare professionals associated with delivering treatment interventions in the burn
unit will be instructed to treat half of the patients with Dressilk © and the other half of the
participating burn patients with BioBrane © wound dressings (Schulz et al., 2016; Schiefer et al.,
2017). It is worthwhile to note that the prevalence of a small sample size as well as lack of
randomization in the proposed research design raises doubts concerning the lack of internal
validity and prevalence of bias, which in turn, are likely to impact the applicability and
generalizability of this research. However, as discussed previously, not only are burn patients
likely to limited within the chosen Singaporean healthcare organization, the relatively novel
nature and unavailability of Dressilk © wound dressings are likely to yield issues in
organizational acceptance and financial constraints (Zeng et al., 2018). With this respect, a pre

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and post intervention pilot study with a small sample size in the absence of a control group will
be a feasible option for outcome evaluation of clinical interventions and thus, will assist in
identifying useful requirements for future large scale implementation (Brown & Holloway,
2018).
Intervention
Proposed Interventions
Prior to administration of Dressilk © and Biobrane © wound dressings for each patient
group, each of the wounds will be cleaned, sanitized and debrided as per the standard of care
principles of sterilization, sanitation and hand hygiene. Following the same, skin grafting
procedures will be implemented where Dressilk © and Biobrane © wound dressings will be
administered in the dimensions of 5 x 15 cm. Wound healing and scar treatment based outcomes
will be measured prior to grafting and at 3 and 6 months follow up periods and at hour intervals
of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16, 24 hours respectively. Daily wound dressing replacements will be
conducted and QOL based outcomes will be measured during pre-intervention and post
intervention 6 month follow up sessions (Schulz et al., 2016; Schiefer et al., 2017; Benskin,
2016).
Barriers, Facilitators and Leadership Style
Novel clinical interventions and associated health behaviour change are often met with
change resistance at the organizational level. Considering the low availability of Dressilk © as
compared to Biobrane © in Singapore, the lack of awareness and knowledge as well as
organizational quality standards are likely to result in change barriers associated with resistance
across staff to implement the former as compared to the latter (Shahbaz et al., 2019). However,

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collaborating and interacting with key stakeholders with respect to clinical effectiveness
associated with novel interventions (in this case Dressilk ©) have been evidenced to facilitate
organizational change motivation. Engagement in stakeholder collaboration for encouraging,
motivating and facilitating change are relevant aspects of transformational leadership. Thus, to
facilitate change prior to research, the researcher will take an educational group discussion
session comprising of discussing the benefits of implementing Dressilk © with respect to
organizational quality principles (Mareš, 2018).
Change Model
The transtheoretical model of change is a relevant framework which provides an
understanding of the stages individuals go through when encountered with change. With respect
to the above identified barriers considered to change resistance, the transformational leadership
based group discussion will be held during precontemplation and contemplation stages where
participants have been demonstrated the yield the least likelihood of engaging in change
motivation (Levoy, Salani & Buck, 2019). This will then be followed by explaining staff on the
research methodologies and implementation of wound dressing changes during the preparation
and action stages where participants have been evidenced to demonstrate readiness to change.
Administration of feedback interviews post intervention will assist evaluation of staff opinions
concerning changing with respect to the model’s termination stage (Archer, Langhinrichsen-
Rohling & Blejwas, 2018).
Ethical Consideration
For the purpose of implementing a research which is morally and ethically compliant to
participant needs as well safe and qualitatively effective for ensuring long term health outcomes,
there is a need to adhere to necessary ethical considerations. Considering that the proposed

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research will comprise of human subjects and primary research, key ethical issues will be
addressed (Golder et al., 2017). Firstly the research will be considered for implementation only
after gaining approval from the ethics committee of the university or any notable academic
institutions. Further, the proposed study will be conducted in the chosen healthcare organization
only after gaining approval and permission from the relevant organizational management of the
same. In order to ensure adequate participant awareness concerning the study, the details, and
purpose and potential outcomes will be explained thoroughly to patients, healthcare
administration and healthcare professionals of the organization with the help of a written
resources containing research information (Ocak, Köseoglu & Yildiz, 2017). Likewise,
participants will be given the option for voluntary participation and will be included in the study
only after acquiring informed consent. Non-consenting participants will be assured that their
non-participation will not impact the quality of existing interventions provided to them. Lastly,
to ensure patient privacy, data security and confidentiality, the names of all participants will be
changed to pseudonyms and their private health information will be enclosed and locked in a
secure cabinet labeled as ‘no-disclosure’ with only authorized access (Reijers et al., 2018).
Quality of Care and Improvement
To ensure patient safety as well as maintenance of organizational standards of service
quality and positive patient feedback, the interventions will be addressed with key care quality
improvement standards. Wound healing interventions and dressing administration are associated
with a high risk of acquiring healthcare associated infections and adverse health consequences
for both healthcare professionals and patients (Catton et al., 2020). To prevent the same,
healthcare professionals administering the wound dressing will be instructed to maintain
stringent hygiene and sterilization standards in addition to usage of personal protective

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equipment. Additionally, as a part of quality auditing and need for continuous improvement,
feedback sessions will be taken with both participants as well as healthcare organizations
regarding their opinions on the strengths and limitations of this change proposal (Griffiths et al.,
2018).
Data Collection
Methodology & Outcome Measurement
Baseline patient data will be collected in terms of patient demographics such as patient
names, age, gender, ethnicity, income status and educational level using administrative data. For
the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of wound healing properties of both wound dressing
interventions, the wounds of patients receiving both Dressilk © and Biobrane © dressings will be
assessed based on outcomes like exudation, pain, dressing change, inflammation, prevalence of
complications or adverse consequences and the overall time required for closure of wounds.
These outcomes will be collected and measured using the Verbal Rating Scale which rates these
factors on a scale of 1 (no event) to 10 (maximum event expression). For addressing outcomes of
scar assessment for both Dressilk © and Biobrane © groups, wounds will be assessed using
Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) and Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS)
measurements after complete wound healing (Schulz et al., 2016; Schiefer et al., 2017). For
measuring outcomes pertaining to QOL, measurements such as the Medical Outcome Study
Short Form (SF-36) and the Burn Specific Health Scale Brief (BSHS-B) will be used after
complete wound healing. Patient billing, handover and administration data will be used to assess
the costs associated with pre and post Dressilk © and Biobrane © interventions (Spronk et al.,
2018).

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Data Analysis
The patient demographics and data outcomes so collected will be tabulated and analysed
for descriptive statistics using spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel. The data will be
statistically analysed for significant differences between the two patient groups in terms of
student’s t-test and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) (Schulz et al., 2016; Schiefer et al., 2017).
Conclusion
Thus, this paper provides an extensive and elaborate discussion on the key
methodological, sampling and methodological aspects to be considered with respect to a
proposed research examining the effectiveness of Dressilk © wound dressings as compared to
Biobrane© dressings across burn patients with partially thick wound injuries requiring skin
grafting. Due to the prevalent used of Biobrane© as well as lack of awareness concerning
Dressilk © within the proposed Singaporean health context, it is likely that the implementation of
the proposed research will be met with a change resistance, for mitigation of which, the
transtheoretical model of change will be considered. The relatively small sample size and lack of
randomization, though impacting internal validity and applicability, will be a feasible option
considering the limited availability of burn patients and the need to address intervention
acceptability, change resistance and identification of facilitators which can be useful for large
scale future study implementation. To conclude, the outcomes of this proposed study will pave
the way for providing healthcare organizations with clinically effective and financially feasible
wound healing options with long term improvements in the quality of life. The findings so
obtained will be published, shared across Singaporean healthcare organizations and presented
across national and international conferences for comprehensive dissemination.

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Appendix
Figure 1: Sample Size Calculation
Table 1: Proposed Research Timeline
Research
Activities
1st to 3rd
week
1st
month
1st to 2nd
month
2nd
month
3rd
month
4 to 6th
month
7th
month
Selection of
Topic 
Collection of
Literature
Review  
Creation of
Draft Proposal  
Reviewing and
correction of
draft  
Acquiring
ethics approval
and
implementation
of Research
 
Data outcome
evaluation  
Conclusion

18CHAPTER 3: QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Draft
Formation  
Complete work
submission 