Rapid Critical Appraisal of a Descriptive Study

Descriptive Appraisal
Student Name: _________________________________________________
Rapid Critical Appraisal Checklist for Descriptive Studies
Validity
Are the results of the study valid? YES NO Yes
Were study/survey methods appropriate for the question? YES NO Yes
Was sampling method appropriate for the research question? YES NO No
Was sample size implications on study results discussed? YES NO No
Were variables studied appropriate for the question? YES NO Yes
 List Dependent (outcome) variable(s):
Cost of the treatment
Pain management
Days of admission
Effectiveness of the hospital care
Morbidity rate of the patient
Alcohol addiction
Compliance to thee medication
 List Independent (correlational or other) variables:
Homelessness
Terminal illness
Were outcomes appropriate for the question? YES NO Yes
Were valid and reliable instruments used to measure outcomes? YES NO N/A
Were the chosen measures appropriate for the study outcomes? YES NO N/A
Were outcomes clearly described? YES NO Yes
Did investigators and/or funding agencies declare freedom from
conflict of interest?
YES NO NO
Reliability
What are the results? Are the results reliable? YES NO yes
What were the main results of the study?
The main result of the study is to assess the cost effectiveness of the selected program
by comparing the cost of the research based on the hospice program for the terminally ill
patients, who are homeless. Medical expenditure was calculated in the hospice setting in
comparison to the other hospitals. Additionally, the death rate of the patient in the hospice
program was calculated. The Karnofsky performance scale score at admission was calculated
to assess the inability to care for self, with disability requiring special care. Percentage of the
substance usages was calculated also with respect to the assessment of use of tobacco, alcohol,
drugs and marijuana.
 Was there statistical significance?
Explain: The P-value for the cost analysis of the
research is less than 0.001(Podymow, Turnbull, &
Coyle,2006). This P value is extremely significant as
pre the statistical analysis (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt,
YES NO YES
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Descriptive Appraisal
2011). Therefore, the p-value signifies that under the
normal circumstances, most of the substantial evidence
do not support the null hypothesis.
 Was there clinical significance?
Explain: The research result is clinically significant as
cost analysis has been discussed in the research with the
comparison of previous research analysis
(Podymow, Turnbull, & Coyle, 2006). The unit cost has
been describe in the estimation of the research analysis.
The cost estimation will help in future analysis off the
research based on the homeless palliative acre. The
hospice program will help the researcher and future
nurses to understand the needs of the patients with
terminal illness. End of life care issues will be promoted
by the researcher with the reference of emergency
ambulance and hospital transfer.
YES NO YES
Were safety concerns, including adverse events and ethical
concerns -risk/benefit, described?
YES NO YES
Applicability
Will the results help me in caring for my patients? YES NO Yes
Are the results applicable to my patient population? YES NO yes
Will my patients and families values and beliefs be supported
by the knowledge gained from the study?
YES NO yes
Reflection prompts: Would you use the study results in your
practice to make a difference in patient outcomes?
YES NO yes
 If yes, how?
The study can make difference in the future researches
and other medical interventions of the clinical world.
The paper has shown statistically highly significant
result in cost analysis of the hospice program
(Podymow, Turnbull, & Coyle,2006).).
YES
 If yes, why?
This paper can be used as a sample of medical program
plan for reducing the expenses in the future researches.
The research will be focused on the different medical
therapy and the parameters for monitoring the patients’
problems such as alcohol abuse, medicinal drug abuse,
nature of disease and demographic characteristics.
YES
 If no, why not? N/A
Additional comments/Reflections:
As a nursing student the paper is reliable for treating patients’ health and psychological well
beings with the preference in the end of life care procedure.
Recommendation for article use within a body of evidence:
 The researchers of the paper used some references which are older than 5years or more
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