Importance of Research and Evidence Based Practice in Health and Social Care during Covid-19 Pandemic

This article discusses the importance of research in health and social care during the Covid-19 pandemic. It explains qualitative and quantitative research and compares two journal articles related to the mental health of nurses during the pandemic. The reliability and validity of both articles are also discussed.

Introduction to research and
evidence based practice

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Importance of research in the context of health and social care-.................................................3
Explanation of qualitative and quantitative research along with its characteristic......................4
Introduction of two journal article related to health and social care area....................................6
Comparing and contrasting the approaches and methods of two journal articles.......................7
Discussing the reliability and validity of both the articles..........................................................8
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Health and social care is a treatment of the ill health as well as medical conditions in the
health centre, hospitals and in the community. Nurse also face many problems at the time of
pandemic such as low mood, poor sleep, feeling helpless, tiredness, guilt, work load and many
more. As older people are vulnerable as well as required extra care. So at the time of the Covid
the nurse are not mental stable because they cannot with their family, children etc. At the time of
Covid many people loss their life, all individuals have to stay on their home but the doctors and
nurse are on duty. So the mental health outcome of the health care workers that are treating the
patient exposed to the Covid 19. It is determined that depression prevalence rate of the 22.9 per
cent, anxiety pooled prevalence of the 23.3 per cent, insomnia prevalence estimation is 38.9 per
cent (Mental health Statistics, UK. 2022). The female health care employees or workers as well
as nurse were ones who generally exhibited higher rate of the affective symptoms. The nurse
also effect this that they not meet their family member in the tough time, even many nurse test
positive during the treatment of the patient. The repeated images of the nurse that are suffering
from the distress that following patient death without their family member or loved ones that are
surrounding them to facial skin injuries. At that time all the health care workers have undertaken
infection prevention as well as control training particularly to Covid 19. The workers also use
PPE kit which is not easy to wear 24 hours. In the lock down situation the social distancing is
maintained so the doctors and the nurse are not able to go home as they have to take care of
their patient, so they stay in the hospital only.
Importance of research in the context of health and social care-
The research is considered as one of the important aspect within the health and social are
as this helps the researchers to find out better treatment regarding the particular disease within
the patients. The Health research is very essentially such as the privacy and health research is
having very high value in the society (Juvinyà-Canal and et.al., 2020). Conducting the research
over the health and social care will provide many benefits to the society. This provides the
important and necessary information regarding the diseases trends as well as all the other risk
factors, results of the treatment or the any of the public health interventions, functional abilities,
patterns of taking the care of patients, health care costs and there uses and many such things can
be determined through the research.

As in one of the article has shown that how badly the mental health of the nurses was
affected due to the emergence of the COVID 19 pandemic (Papadopoulos, Koulouglioti and Ali,
2018). Researching for this topic or article has helped in identifying the level at which the nurses
were affected by treating the Covid 19 patients. This shows that how much difficult it was for the
nurses to handle and tale care of these patients to recover them as soon as possible. The health
and asocial care research will enable the nurses as well as the doctors to understand more types
of the treatment and the medical interventions for controlling the diseases as well as curing the
patients effectively. This will also help the doctor to identify the new medicines or the drugs
which can be used by them to cure the patients. In the another article, it has been identified that
the workers which were working in the hospitals during the Covid 19 has faced many problems
and due to this, it is very important for conducting the research to analyse the things effectively.
Explanation of qualitative and quantitative research along with its characteristic
Qualitative and quantitative are the two types of research which is used by the author in their
research study to come up with the appropriate conclusion and results. The meaning and
characteristics of these two research are as follows:
Qualitative research
Meaning: The qualitative research is defined as a method of market research which mainly
focuses on obtaining the data via open-ended as well as conversational communication. Under
qualitative research, theoretical aspects related to the study has been consider without involving
any facts and figures. In simple term, qualitative approach includes the collection and analysis of
non-numerical data to understand the specific research topic thoroughly.
Characteristics:
 Real world setting: This is one of the characteristics of qualitative research which involve
methods like observation, ethnographic, focus group etc.
 Researchers play an important role:
 Complex reasoning:
 Participants meaning:
Quantitative Research
The quantitative research can be defined as the research methods which are largely
applied to the health and social care research for determining of the new meaningful and

relevant information. The quantitative research involves considering of the statistical or the
numerical data for the research study. The main aim of this research is to provide the exact
and mores relevant, unbiased estimation of the parameters of the interest in the complete
population of the research study which will require the large number of the sample size. This
basically includes the numbers which determines the what, who, when as well as where the
health regarding events will be discussed. For example, such as the age, weight, temperature
and many such things are considered in this research study.
The quantitative research can be explained as the systematic investigation which helps in
gathering or collecting the data which is quantifiable in nature as well as which may performs
statistical. Mathematical as well as the computational techniques. This type of the research
gathers the information which is already existing and uses the sampling methods which includes
online surveys, online polls, questionnaires and so on. The outcomes of this research methods are
in the form of the numerical data as after understanding and evaluating the things in effective
manner will help in predicting the future changes accordingly (McFadden, and et.al., 2021).
Some characteristics of the quantitative research are such as-
Structured tools: These structured tools involve such as the surveys, polls, questionnaire which
are used for gathering the data for conducting the research study. Using this type of the
structured method. Helps the researchers to collect the detailed and accurate data by conducting
the surveys and getting the responses from the participants.
Sample size: It is very essential for the researchers to take the definite sample size for
representing the target market. Using the most appropriate sampling methods must be used for
driving the sample to achieve the objectives of the research study.
Close-ended questions: These close-ended questions are basically prepared on the basis of the
research objectives. These framed questions help the researchers to collect the quantitative data.
Generalization of the results: The outcomes of this research by collecting the quantitative data
can be generalized regarding the complete population for taking of the appropriate actions for the
improvements.
Quantitative data: This type of the data basically represented by the tables, charts as well as the
graphs which helps the researcher to analyse the collected data effectively.

Introduction of two journal article related to health and social care area
To analyse the health and social care area during the Covid-19 pandemic, the two journal
articles has been selected which are as follows:
Article 1
Title: Worries, preparedness, and perceived impact of Covid-19 pandemic on nurse’s mental
health.
Authors: Maura Galletta, Ilenia Piras, Gabriele Finco, Federico Meloni, Ernesto D’Aloja, Paolo
Contu, Marcello Campagna and Igor Portoghese.
Summary: This study has been conducted by the author to analyse the association between the
risk factors such as perceived impact, preparedeness to the pandemic and worries with the mental
health of nurses. The mental health outcome includes crying, rumination and stress. In this study,
it has been summarized that rumination mental health outcome in nurses is associated with the
caring of patients died due to coronavirus, job demand, noticing colleagues crying, non-work
related worries and fear of getting infected because all these factors odd ratio are lower than the
standard criteria of 0.05. From result of multiple binary logistic regression analysis, the study has
been stated that the risk factors are statistically associated with the mental health outcomes in the
nurses (Galletta and et.al., 2021). This indicate that risk factors impacted the mental health
nurses. It has been analysed by the author, using the cross-sectional study design via online
questionnaire survey. From mixed study on 894 registered nurses, it has been summarized that
the global public health emergency has impacted mental health of nurses in tern of crying,
rumination and stress because they required to deal with corona cases on a daily basis. Lastly, it
has been stated that the worries have also impacted the overall effectiveness of nurses during the
pandemic.
Article 2
Title: A qualitative study of reinforcement worker’s perceptions and experiences of working in
intensive care during the Covid-19 pandemic: A PsyCOVID-ICU substudy.

Author: Florian Perraud, Fiona Ecarnot, Melanie Loiseau, Alexandra Laurent, Alicia Fournier,
Florent Lheureux, Christine Binquet, Jean-Philippe Rigaud, Nicolas Meuniew-Beillard and Jean-
Pierre Quenot.
Summary: This study has been summarized the perception and experience of reinforcement
workers engaged in ICUs during the covid-19 pandemic and the impact of this deployment on
the personal as well as professional lives of reinforcement workers. The study has been
conducted using the qualitative approach and selected 30 random reinforcement workers (nurses)
from 4 centres participated in the larger PsyCovid-ICU study. From the thematic analysis, it has
been analysed by the author that the deployment of reinforcement workers in the ICUs has
causes different issue for them. It is analysed that the deployment in ICUs has created issue for
the reinforcement workers in term of difficulty with integration, lack of training, difficulty with
management such as insufficient communication, mental distress because of unusual work.
These are basically some of the issue which was experience by the nurses in the ICUs during the
period of Covid-19 cases treatment (Perraud and et.al., 2022). The study has been analysed
through the qualitative research that healthcare workers deployed as reinforcement to ICU had a
unique experience such as gap in organization and preparation management. Themes has been
prepared in the qualitative study to analyse the unprecedented disruption which is basically
caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to the healthcare delivery all over the world.
Comparing and contrasting the approaches and methods of two journal articles
Covid-19 was a dreadful period, more of a nightmare, which risked every single person's
life on the planet. Moreover, the people who could not run from these times were the doctors and
the nurses. This period costed various people and doctors their lives. Every time more and more
workers were reinforced in the healthcare sector to treat the people who were suffering from the
virus. Different studies were also conducted to know the perspectives of the doctors and the
nurses who were reinforced to work during those times.
Here, are also mentioned two studies for the same purpose of gaining the knowledge of
the mental state and health of these people during those tough times. Both the studies are
different from one another. One study has used the qualitative approach of research while the
other has used the quantitative approach (Liamputtong, 2020). The qualitative research focused
on gaining the views and perspectives of 30 nurses through the interviews to analyse the actual

impact on their mental health but the following research was not effective enough as the other
research was carried on the 894 nurses from Italy to obtain the right analytics. For the main
purpose of the study, quantitative research hold good as it provides the clear digits of people with
their views and also helps in gaining a right can exact idea of the number of people getting
affected from different problems whereas, the qualitative research only provided how the mental
health was affected (Fowler and Lapp, 2019). The qualitative research provided the result
showcasing lack of the training, integration difficulty, management difficult, 0 experience with
the ICU which is a huge problem and a great threat to a person's profession (Haven and Van
Grootel, 2019). They were lacking in the special areas then also the nurses were doing the jobs.
On the other hand the quantitative research provided the exact number of people facing mental
health issues due to different problems. It presented number of nurses who were afraid because
of looking at the other people cry, who got affected because of increasing deaths, their personal
care for the patients, fear of getting infected from the virus etc.
Both the research presented the impact of the reinforcement of workers but the qualitative
research gave an idea of how the people were getting affected and how their mental health was
not in a good state by sharing their views on the experience they had and different problems they
faced in the interview whereas, the quantitative research which was done through the online
questionnaire, gave information related to both, what were the problems faced by the individual
workers during the period and how many people faced the problem.
Discussing the reliability and validity of both the articles
Stating which one is more reliable and why
The qualitative research focused on the interview mode. It was completely conducted
with the consent of nurses (Allan, 2020). As the interview was not a face to face this might have
caused some misunderstandings and addressing of some repercussions might have missed. The
following research may also have the loss of verbal information which could have made the
research lose its authenticity. Also, the articles that were considered for the research were very
old and were not from the past 5 years. This might have affected the authenticity of the research
and might not deliver the right idea. The quantitative research that was done by an online
questionnaire was completed by all the people willingly (Bloomfield and Fisher, 2019). No
single person was forced to fill the online survey and there were no adverse effect as well on the
nurses who interrupted. The research also presented the actual number of people and problems,

so this was a much better form of research. The information was derived from the protected
sources and references used were also from the past 5 years which made the research authentic
and valuable (Sürücü and MASLAKÇI, 2020).
By comparing the reliability and validity, the quantitative research hold much value and
is more reliable than the qualitative research.
Stating ways for improvising the research for the next time
The research can be improved by using the protective data and also by using the data
which is from the past five years as the old data derived from more than past 5 year will hold no
good value for the research. It should be done by the consent of people, no research should be
conducted forcefully as it can harm the authenticity of the research. For conducting a research
appropriately, all these things should be considered and everything that is indirect should be
avoided such as the telephonic communication. The way of conducting research should also be
advanced with time in order to be authentic enough and hold good for the society so that the
society can rely on it. There should be online questionnaires that should be filled by the people
willingly, there can be the interviews conducted as they have a personal touch, some distribution
of the forms in an organization etc. But other than these ways, there is also one thing which plays
a very important role in conducting the research effectively, it is improving the personal research
skills. By improving the personal research skills one person creates a good base for the research
as it enhances the personal ability of carrying research in a right possible manner. Here are the
ways in which a person can enhance the research skills:
1. The very first step involves learning the searching art as it is the key of successful
research and planning the search strategy.
2. Second is tracing of the citations for unlocking the conversation related to the topic.
3. Third is exploring the expert help.
4. Fourth is systematically recording and managing the references of the data collected.
5. Meeting with the learning advisor of the senior library.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
From the above report it can be concluded that it is very important for the researchers to
conduct the detailed research for the specific health and social care research topic. This will help
them in gaining more insights of the meaningful information for curing the patients in better

way. This report has discussed the importance of the research within the health and social care
because it is very highly essential for the health sector to effectively understand the things and
make them more relevant by applying within their practices. It has been identified from the
above report that it is very necessary for the doctor and nurses to analyse the new medical
interventions as well as the medications which will help them in recovering the patients as soon
as possible. Along with this, the quantitative and the qualitative research has been explained with
their characteristics. Further, the two articles has been compared which are given as well as the
validity and the reliability of each of the given article has been analysed and ways through which
these can be improved for the future has been stated.
The doctors and the nurses must use the most effective healthcare and social care
practices which will help them in improving the patients such as creation of the balanced and
effective teams, analysing the outcomes of the research and through this the changes must be
adopted, creation of the execution plan, communication of the goals and the progress achieved
by the research study (Aveyard, 2018). Incorporating such practices within the health and social
care by the workers will help them in improving the recovery process.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Allan, G., 2020. Qualitative research. In Handbook for research students in the social sciences
(pp. 177-189). Routledge.
Aveyard, H., 2018. Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide.
Bloomfield, J. and Fisher, M.J., 2019. Quantitative research design. Journal of the Australasian
Rehabilitation Nurses Association. 22(2). pp.27-30.
Fowler, S.B. and Lapp, V., 2019. Sample size in quantitative research: Sample size will affect
the significance of your
Galletta, M. and et.al., 2021. Worries, Preparedness, and Perceived Impact of Covid-19
Pandemic on Nurses' Mental Health. Frontiers in Public Health, p.643.
Haven, T. and Van Grootel, D.L., 2019. Preregistering qualitative research. Accountability in
research. 26(3). pp.229-244.
Juvinyà-Canal, D., and et.al., 2020. Health literacy among health and social care university
students. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(7),
p.2273.
Liamputtong, P., 2020. Qualitative research methods.
McFadden, and et.al., 2021. The role of coping in the wellbeing and work-related quality of life
of UK health and social care workers during COVID-19. International journal of
environmental research and public health, 18(2), p.815.
Papadopoulos, I., Koulouglioti, C. and Ali, S., 2018. Views of nurses and other health and social
care workers on the use of assistive humanoid and animal-like robots in health and
social care: a scoping review. Contemporary nurse, 54(4-5), pp.425-442.
Perraud, F. and et.al., 2022. A qualitative study of reinforcement workers’ perceptions and
experiences of working in intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A PsyCOVID-
ICU substudy. Plos one. 17(3). p.e0264287.
Sürücü, L. and MASLAKÇI, A., 2020. Validity and reliability in quantitative research. Business
& Management Studies: An International Journal. 8(3). pp.2694-2726.
Online
Mental health Statistics, UK. 2022. Online available through:<
https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/mental-health-indicator-update >
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