HST2122 Health Research Methodology: Evaluating Spinal Immobilization

This report presents an evaluation of a research article focusing on the potential adverse effects of spinal immobilization in children. The evaluation assesses various components of the research report, including the front matter, statement of the problem, literature review, purpose, research design, participant selection, data collection, data analysis, results, conclusion, and back matter. The critique uses a scoring system to determine the quality of each component and provides justifications for the assigned scores based on evidence from the original article. The overall assessment of the study highlights its strengths and weaknesses in addressing the research question related to the impact of spinal immobilization on children suffering from trauma, particularly in the context of potential neurological injuries. This study contributes to understanding the effects of spinal immobilization and its implications for pediatric trauma care. Desklib offers a wide range of resources, including past papers and solved assignments, to aid students in their studies.

HST2122 Health Research Methodology
HST2122 Assessment 2
Worksheet for Evaluating a Health Research Study Report
Instructions: Use this template to record your evaluation of the article that you have critiqued for Assessment 2. See separate instructions for detailed
guidance on completing assessment.
NOTE: Hide or remove the rows in the summary table, and pages of the detailed critique, not relating to the article chosen for critique. Your summary table
should reflect the score and overall assessment given (and supported by evidence) for each component, in the detailed tables to follow. The current row width
can be expanded as high as necessary to provide a complete base of evidence.
Reviewer’s
Name:
End-text citation of article critiqued:
Leonard, J. C., Mao, J., & Jaffe, D. M. (2012). Potential adverse effects of spinal immobilization in children. Prehospital Emergency Care, 16(4), 513-518.
https://doi.org/10.3109/10903127.2012.689925
Summary Table
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HST2122 Health Research Methodology
Component of evaluation Max
score
Score Overall assessment of component
Part A: Evaluating the Front Matter in a Research
Report
12 38 The front matter of the research report covered all the necessary element of the
study that was essential for the reader to understand the overall concept of the
report.
Part B: Evaluating the Statement of the Problem
in a Research Report
18 33 No appropriate research problem was highlighted in the study by the researcher that
was considered as the major disadvantage of the study as the necessary steps were
not highlighted that was not required in the report.
Part C: Evaluating the Literature Review in a
Research Report
21 40 No extensive literature review was conducted by the researcher that could have
focused on the background of the study and allowed the researcher to gain deep
knowledge on the topic.
Part D: Evaluating a Purpose in a Research
Report
21 136 The primary purpose or objective of the study was clearly stated by the researcher
that gave a detail insight about the adverse effect of spinal immobilization among
children.
Part E1: Evaluating the Research Design in a
Quantitative Research Report
6 10 The research design was effectively explained by the research that highlighted the
research design method used in the study that was followed by the authors and
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HST2122 Health Research Methodology
allowed the readers to even interpret and understand the research design.
Part F1: Evaluating the Participants and Data
Collection in a Quantitative Research Report
21 81 The researcher adequately explained the participants used in the study those where
children and also explained the data collection method that was used by the
researcher to evaluate the result.
Part G1: Evaluating the Data Analysis and
Results in a Quantitative Research Report
18 70 The researcher explained the data analysis step precisely that helped the readers to
understand the steps that helped the researcher to evaluate the result effectively.
The author had also explained the result that was established after the completion of
the study.
Part E2: Evaluating the Research Design in a
Qualitative Report
9
Part F2: Evaluating the Participants and Data
Collection in a Qualitative Report
18
Part G2: Evaluating the Data Analysis and
Findings in a Qualitative Report
21
Part H: Evaluating the Conclusion and Back
Matter in a Research Report
21 71 The author explained the conclusion precisely by elaborating the appropriate
implication area that would help the readers to understand where these study can be
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HST2122 Health Research Methodology
implicated and how they can use to interpret the effect of spinal immobilization
among children.
Quantitative maximum possible score / total
score given
And Overall assessment
0 - 68 = Low Quality
69 - 106 = Adequate Quality
107 - 138 = High Quality
Quan
t max
=138
Obtained
Score =
479
The total score was listed according to the research of each aspect used in the study
that highlighted the overall quality of the study.
Qualitative maximum possible score / total
score given
And Overall assessment
0 - 70 = Low Quality
71 - 109 = Adequate Quality
110 - 141 = High Quality
Qual
max
=141
Summary evaluation and justification
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This research study allowed the readers to understand the concept of spinal immobilization that is considered as the standard care among children who are
suffering from trauma and are under greater risk of neurologic injury. The researcher considered different aspect that allowed them to analyze the
participant’s condition and accordingly construct the result. The researcher thus identified the association between the adverse effect and spinal
immobilization among children who are suffering from traumatic condition. As no detail study was conducted for children this research study would thus
assist the reader to understand the concept of spinal immobilization and its effects on the children (Leonard, Mao, & Jaffe 2012).
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HST2122 Health Research Methodology
Part A: Evaluating the Front Matter in a Research Report
Quality Criteria Qualit
y
Rating
*
Identify Element State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. The study’s authors and
journal are reputable.
10 Leonard J.C , Mao J & Jaffe D. M
“Potential adverse effects of spinal
immobilization in children”
The author and the journal is reputable as the authors involved in the study
were experienced and had also published other journal articles that was
accepted and used by students to seek information regarding the topic.
Mao was the only author who had published a single journal that focused
on the same topic of spinal immobilization among children. The other two
authors were more experienced and had published other journal articles
also that focused on the children. The journal article also focused on the
children and the adverse effect of spinal immobilization among children.
The journal article provided a detail insight on the condition of the
children suffering from trauma and maintaining the position of spine in
neutral position that will protect the children from any neurological injury.
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No extensive research was conducted on the above mentioned topic that
primarily focused on children and highlight the adverse effect that can be
faced by them hence, the researchers evaluated the health condition of the
children in detail and focused on the effect of spinal immobilization
among them.
2. The title reflects the
content and focus of the
study.
7 “Focus on Pediatric EMS” The title of the study was not appropriate enough to explain the content of
the journal as the title just gave an overall concept of pediatric emergency
medical services and had no information that could highlight the concept
of spinal immobilization among children. Pediatric involves the medical
services for infants, adolescents and children hence, no clear idea was
established that could state that the title focus on only children. The title of
the paper could have been clear that would have allowed the readers to
understand that the journal speaks about the adverse health condition
faced by the children due to spinal immobilization that is considered as the
standard care for the children suffering from trauma and prevents any kind
of neurological injury during trauma transport. There were many factors
that was accessed in the study but was not mentioned in the title of the
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journal article.
3. The abstract concisely
but accurately
summarizes the aim,
methodology and main
findings of the report.
11 The abstract consisted of objective that
highlighted the primary purpose of the
journal article, methods used in the
journal and the result that was noted by
the researcher while carrying out the
study
The abstract was well-directed that provided a clear idea and description
of the content that will be focused in the journal article. The primary
objective of the study was mentioned in the abstract under a separate sub-
heading that highlighted the purpose of the study and provided a clear idea
of the topic that is explained in detail within the study. Methodology
followed by the researcher to conduct the study was precisely explained
highlighting the research method used and the population of children who
were eligible and included in the experimental study. The factors that were
considered in the completion of the study was also highlighted in the
methodology subheading under abstract that provided the readers a clear
medium of better understanding of the topic. The last sub-heading
included under abstract was result that explained the research findings of
the study and helped the researcher to understand the outcome of the
experiment conducted by them.
General Evaluation
4. The front matter 10 The front matter accurately reflects the The front matter included the title and thesis of the journal article that
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accurately reflects the
content of the report and
allows an evaluation of
relevance.
content of the report that will allow the
researcher to effectively evaluate the
relevance of the journal article.
exhibited in detail the contents of the paper. The front matter accurately
explained the background of the study that focused on the concept of
spinal immobilization that was cause due to trauma transport and this
procedure was considered as the standard care in order to prevent the
children from neurologic injury. The front matter included the gist of the
research the consisted of research objective highlighting the purpose of the
study with the used methodology to evaluate the result that focused on the
adverse effect on the children.
Overall Quality Part A
0- 6 = Low quality
7- 9 = Adequate quality
10- 12 = High quality
Total
Part A
Score
= 38
My Overall Assessment of Part A = 2
*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
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Part B: Evaluating the Statement of the Problem in a Research Report
Quality Criteria
Quality
Rating
*
Identify Element
with evidence from article
State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. The topic is interesting. 10 “Potential adverse effects of spinal
immobilization in children”
The topic selected by the researcher was interesting as it focused on the
children who were suffering from blunt trauma and were frequently
traveling for standard care by using spinal immobilization that will
prevent the children from spine injury. The children who are suffering
from trauma and spinal injury goes through tremendous pain and the
author focused on the association between the emergency department time
and spinal immobilization. Appropriate markers were used to highlight
the area of the injury location that allows the researcher to highlight the
area of injury.
2. There is a meaningful
problem.
5 The researcher did not focus on the
research problem and no research gap
was highlighted and mentioned in the
The appropriate research problem would assist the researcher in
identifying the area that required attention and extensive research thereby
allowing them to focus more on the problem that affected the researcher to
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research study. estimate the adverse effect of the spinal immobilization on children. While
carrying out the research it is crucial for the researcher to identify the
research problem as it would also assist the readers to locate the area of
research gap (George, Russell & Odgers, 2017).
3. The importance of the
problem is justified.
4 The importance of the research
problem was not justified or stated by
the researcher as no research problem
was stated in the journal by the
researcher.
The research problem allow the authors to locate the steps that is
unnecessary and not required for carrying out the research therefore
benefiting the researcher to formulate the steps that is necessary for
carrying out the research. In this journal article the researcher did not
highlight the research problem and the significance of the research
problem that will guide them to avoid the unnecessary steps while
carrying out the research (Stoner et al., 2018). Hence, formulating the
research problem is considered as the preliminary step while conducting
the research study thereby assisting the researcher and the reader to locate
the steps that is necessary to focus on.
4. There are deficiencies in
the knowledge about the
problem.
5 The deficiency of the knowledge in the
research problem was not highlighted
by the researcher as the researcher
lacked in expressing the research
No accurate deficiency was explained by the researcher from the research
problem as the researcher was unable to explain the identified research
problem while carrying out the study. Appropriate identification of the
research problem will allow the readers as the researcher to locate the
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problem while conducting the research
study.
importance of the study and accordingly explain the significance of the
research objective that will help them to identify the problem and create a
proper orientation following the research hypothesis. If the author
identified the research problem they could have also identified the
knowledge area that was deficit in the study and later any other researcher
could have focused on that and tried to complete the work by using the
drawbacks and avoiding the unnecessary steps that is not required in the
research study.
5. There are audiences who
can benefit from the
missing knowledge.
4 The audience used by the author in the
study were children and the benefited
target were the children as much
research was not done among the
children population highlighting the
adverse effect of spinal
immobilization.
The researcher have not focused on the audience who will get benefited
from the research missing problem as the research problem was not
identified by the author and no knowledge that was deficit in the study
was also highlighted that was considered as the major drawback of the
research study.
General Evaluation
6. The passage is well 5 No research problem passage was The author only gave a detail insight on the research study, methodology
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written. written by the researcher that had
focused on the research gap or
problem of the study.
and the result and did not provide any description of the research problem
that could have helped the researcher to focus on the unnecessary step that
could have been avoided while carrying out the research.
Overall Quality Part B
0- 9 = Low quality
10- 14 = Adequate quality
15- 18 = High quality
Total
Part B
Score =
33
My Overall Assessment of Part B = 1
*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
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Part C: Evaluating the Literature Review in a Research Report
Quality Criteria Quality
Rating
*
Identify Element
with evidence from article
State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. The review includes the
relevant literature.
4 The article does not have any literature
review that do not provide bay
information about the background of
the topic.
Literature review is defined as the scholarly paper that provides
information regarding the background of the topic as well as also helps in
analyzing the finding. Literature review assist in developing more in-depth
knowledge and experience. It not only provide idea about the background
of the topic, but is also helps in identifying the importance and
applicability of the research.
2. The review examines
sources that are recent
and of high quality.
6 The article do not have literature
review but the sources which are used
in the article in introduction, method
and discussion section are credible and
relevant.
Literature review is not present in the article. However in the introduction,
method and discussion section includes several sources. These sources are
credible as they were taken from peer reviewed article. The sources used
in the article are directly linked to the main topic and aim of the research.
It is important to use credible sources in the research as they provide more
appropriate information.
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3. The literature review is
appropriately
documented.
3 Literature review is not included in the
article, however difference sources are
used in several section.
Appropriate documentation of the literature is extremely important in
getting the relevant ideas about the topic easily. Only collecting the
information from differences sources is not enough, but should be
documented properly. The information gathered from different sources
should be documented properly in order to link the information from each
other. In this article literature review has not been conducted but the
sources which are used in the other section of the article are properly
documented.
4. The literature is
thoughtfully synthesized.
4 In this article, no literature review has
been conducted. Hence no such
literature review is synthesized in the
article.
Synthesis of literature review is extremely important in case of research.
Synthesis of literature is defined as combination of two literature to form a
new whole. From the synthesized literature, findings can be easily can be
collected and can assist in designing conclusion. From the synthesis of
literature, a thesis statement can be concluded which is absent in this
paper and hence a proper thesis statement cannot be concluded.
5. The literature is critically
examined.
4 No such literature review has been
conducted. Critical examination of
different such as weakness, strength
and other findings cannot be done.
Critical examination of the literature is important as it helps in providing
the new finding and critical information from the literature (Hart, 2018).
With the critical examination of the review of literature, precise
information such as weakness, strength of the paper. In this article, no
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literature review has been conducted hence no such finding has been
incorporated in the paper.
General Evaluation
6. The study has a strong
foundation in the
literature.
13 This study provides appropriate
information about the adverse effect of
spinal immobilization in the children
and hence can be used as a strong
foundation in the literature.
The study includes the adverse effect of the spinal immobilization in the
children. As the study has been conducted by performing prospective
cohort study which is one of the most reliable method and provides
appropriate result. Hence such studies can be used as the strong
foundation of the literature. In this literature, it is evident that spinal
immobilization can cause trauma and severe pain. This finding can be
used as finding in different literature.
7. The use of the literature
fits the study's overall
research approach.
6 No literature has been conducted in the
article that has been used in the overall
research approach.
In the article, no literature has been conducted which can be used in the
different literature for the overall research purpose. The research is
conducted by using the primary sources such as experiment by using
cohort study. In the study, children who went spinal immobilization and is
admitted to the emergency department are used. Such children are
observed for the result but no literature is incorporated.
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Overall Quality Part C
0- 10 = Low quality
11- 16 = Adequate quality
17- 21 = High quality
Total
Part C
Score =
40
My Overall Assessment of Part c =1
*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
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Part D: Evaluating a Purpose in a Research Report
Quality Criteria Quality
Rating
*
Identify Element
with evidence from article
State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. The study's purpose is
clearly specified.
19
The purpose of the study is to identify
the adverse effect of spinal
immobilization in the children.
Spinal immobilization is defined as the complication in moving the spinal
among the children. It can be caused due to spinal injury. Such injury nit
only causes physical complication but can also cause mental health issue
such as trauma and other mental illness. As the main purpose of the article
is to analyses the adverse effect of the spinal immobilization which is
identified in the result.
2. The focus of the study is
appropriate. 19
The article mainly focusses on the
adverse effect of spinal
immobilization, especially children.
Children are more prone to the adverse effect of the spinal immobilization.
Due to it, children usually suffer from trauma and severe pain (Duncan,
2016). The student who are provided with emergency medical services are
used. To ensure the appropriateness of the result, cohort study has been
used. From the result and conclusion, it can be stated that the article
primarily focusses on the adverse effect of spinal immobilization. Hence
the focus of the study is appropriate.
3. The overall intent of the
study is appropriate.
18 The intent of the article is to evaluate
the purpose of the research.
As spinal immobilization can cause several injuries in the whether on
physical and mental well-being of the children (Copley et al., 2018).
Instead of the adverse effect of spinal immobilization in the children, not
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much research has been conducted in the field. Hence to gather more
information such as their adverse effect, the research has been conducted.
The article provides useful information about the adverse effect of spinal
immobilization such as trauma, excessive pain and injury.
4. The participants and sites
are appropriate.
20
The children suffering from spinal
immobilization or within the American
College of Surgeons guidelines are
selected.
It is conducted in the emergency
department of the health care services.
In this study, the participant who are selected for the experiments are
children and have underwent spinal immobilization and admitted to
hospital. The children who are included in the American College of
Surgeons guidelines (ACS) for the spinal immobilization but are not
actually immobilized. The children suffering from immobilization are
directly observed and compared with children who does not have such
issue. The experiment is conducted in the healthcare settings.
5. The purpose is narrowed
through appropriate
research questions and/or
hypotheses.
21 The hypothesis of the research is “the
purpose of our study was to describe
potential adverse effects associated
with spinal immobilization”.
lowing trauma among children
The hypothesis of the research is to evaluate the adverse effect of spinal
immobilization which is clearly mentioned in the article and the whole
article is completed based on that hypothesis only. The material and
methods also revolve around the main hypothesis and in the result section
also the hypothesis is clearly explained. The conclusion of the article also
reflects the primary hypothesis of the article such as mental trauma and
sever pain is observed in case of children suffering from spinal
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immobilization.
General Evaluation
6. The purpose follows
logically from the
statement of the problem
and literature review.
19 The purpose of the research is to
analyse the adverse effect of spinal
immobilization, which is logically
follows the statement of the problem.
The purpose of the research is to evaluate the adverse effect of the spinal
immobilization. In the research, it is conducted logically such as the
children is first selected. Children only having spinal immobilization are
selected. After that the children who does not have the spinal
immobilization are selected and compared.
7. The purpose is consistent
with the study's overall
approach.
20 The purpose is to evaluate the adverse
effect, which is consistent with the
overall approach of the study.
The purpose of the research is to evaluate the adverse effect of the spinal
immobilization. Whole research is conducted on that approach focusing
on the topic. The result is also described based on that only and their
adverse effect is also described in detail.
Overall Quality Part D
0- 10 = Low quality
11- 16 = Adequate quality
17- 21 = High quality
Total
Part D
Score =
136
My Overall Assessment of Part D = 3
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*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
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Part E1: Evaluating the Research Design in a Quantitative Research Report
Quality Criteria Quality
Rating*
Identify Element
with evidence from article
State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. The choice of the
research design is
appropriate and justified.
5 Prospective cohort study Cohort research design was adopted by the researchers that is a type of
longitudinal study, conducted amid a group of individuals who share a
specific characteristic. Cohort studies are typically conducted among a
group of people who experience a common phenomenon, at a particular
time. Adoption of this research approach can be cited as accurate since
it represents one of the most fundamental aspects of epidemiological
research and also helps in establishing correlation between a cause and
an effect. The primary advantage of conducting a prospective cohort
study can be accredited to the fact that it helps in following a group of
individuals over a particular time, who are different from each other, in
relation to different factors, with the aim of determining how the
factors impact the rate of particular outcomes (Anang et al., 2014). The
importance of prospective cohort study is that at the time when the
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investigators began the enrollment of subjects, and collection of
information related to exposure, the outcome of interest have been have
not yet developed in any of the subjects. Following the collection of
baseline information by the researchers in a prospective cohort study,
the research subjects are usually followed based on a longitudinal
approach over a significant period of time, for several years, which in
turn provides assistance to the researchers for determining when and if
the study subjects acquire a disease or a health ailment, and whether
exposure to a particular phenomenon brings about any change in the
health outcomes. Therefore, conduction of a prospective cohort study
would eventually provide assistance to investigators for using the
research findings for establishing a correlation between a range of risk
factors and specific outcomes in the research participants.
General Evaluation
2. The study used a
rigorous research design.
5 The researchers determined
participant eligibility by conducting
interviews and also obtained verbal
The rigorous design of the research can be accredited to the fact that
the primary research outcome was based on level of pain among the
children, on their arrival and admission to the emergency department,
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informed consent from the parents,
having children who were considered
eligible for the research. The
researchers used the Glasgow Coma
Scale for conducting a thorough and
comprehensive assessment of the
patient. In addition, the researchers
also conducted a comparison between
children who report spine
immobilization after trauma and those
who were considered eligible for the
immobilization of criteria
in addition to the rate of cervical spine imaging. Furthermore, the
researchers also used a five-point scale for determining the severity of
pain among the study subjects. Use of the pain scale helped in
measuring the intensity of pain among the participants, and their
reliability can be associated with the fact that they help in making an
accurate diagnosis of the condition (Pielech et al., 2014). The
researchers also identified cervical spine imaging by conducting a
probe of the radiology billing database. Another aspect that added to
the rigorous research design can be associated with the fact that for all
study subjects who were subjected to the trauma team activation, the
decision for ordering imaging of the cervical spine was a collaborative
effort between the surgical attending clinicians and the ED. Secondary
outcomes for the study were related to length of hospitalization of
patients in the emergency department, and their disposition from ED.
The researchers also adopted a rigorous design in that they calculated
the length of patient stay in the form of length of time between arrival
of patients in the ED and their discharge from the premises.
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Overall Quality Part E
0- 2 = Low quality
3- 4 = Adequate quality
5- 6 = High quality
Total
Part E
Score =
10
My Overall Assessment of Part E = 3
*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
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HST2122 Health Research Methodology
Part F1: Evaluating the Participants and Data Collection in a Quantitative Research Report
*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
Quality Criteria Quality
Rating*
Identify Element
with evidence from article
State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. The sampling strategy is
appropriate and
justified.
8 Convenience sampling This sampling procedure is based on non-probability method that
comprises of selecting a sample from a part of a wider population,
based on proximity and accessibility to the researchers. Also
referred to as availability sampling or grab sampling, the method
does not follow any other criteria, except that the individuals must
be available, and demonstrate a willingness for their participation in
the research. This sampling method is generally not recommended
for conducting a research owing to the fact that there remains a
probability of sampling error. In addition, the procedure might also
give rise to lack of representation of the entire population. One
potential advantage of using this sampling method is that it is
readily available, easy, speedy, and cost-effective (Peterson &
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HST2122 Health Research Methodology
Merunka, 2014). However, the major disadvantage of this research
method is that the researchers are not able to generalize the results
to the target population, owing to the presence of potential bias, and
under-representation of different subgroups that are present in the
target population.
2. The sample size is
appropriate and
justified.
12 173 children having spine
immobilization and 112 children
who were able to meet the ACS
criteria
Sample size refers to the count of discrete observation and samples
in some statistical setting, such as, a clinical experiment. It also
helps in measuring the number of people measured or number of
observations that are used in a research. The process of sample size
determination encompasses selection of the number of replicates or
observation that are to be incorporated in a statistical sample and
forms an essential aspect of an empirical research. Low sample size
reduces reliability of the research findings. Therefore, it can be
stated that the researchers recruited an adequately large sample for
conducting the prospective cohort study.
3. High quality instruments
are used to gather data.
15 Pediatric Trauma Scores (PTSs)
and Glasgow Coma Scale scores
(GCSs)
Use of the PTS helped in stratifying the traumatic injury amid
children. Use of this scale can be cited accurate owing to the fact
that it emphasizes on the significance of the airway and weight of
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the child. Time and again the PTS has been established as a valid
and reliable tool for predicting rates of mortality among children
who suffer from traumatic injury (Knox, Schneider, Cage,
Wimberly & Riccio, 2014). Some other parameters that are
measured are CNS, fracture, wounds, and systolic BP. Use of the
Glasgow Coma Scale was another approach that determined
rigorousness of the research since this neurological scale has been
well established as an objective and dependable method of
recording the state of consciousness of a person, following a head
injury (Teasdale et al., 2014).
4. The data are gathered
using ethical
quantitative procedures.
8 Verbal informed consent obtained
from parents.
Research ethics is an umbrella terms that is able to govern the
principles of behavior for clinical researchers. It is significant for
the researchers to show adherence to a set of ethical principles, with
the aim of upholding and protecting the rights, dignity, and welfare
of all research contributors (Department of Health, 2014). Informed
consent forms an essential aspect of research involving human
participants since it helps in making the study subjects aware of the
purpose of the research, its potential advantages, and adverse
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effects (if any). The researchers also documented the willingness of
participation in research with the use of electronic data based
collection interface. However, the researchers failed to provide any
information on conducting the study in a manner where the children
were exposed to intervention, or manipulation of the variables, such
that there was no harm involved. While autonomy also forms an
essential aspect of research that involves human subjects, the
researchers did not suggest whether they provided the participants
and their parents to refuse their participation or withdraw from the
study at any point of time.
5. The data are gathered
using standardized
quantitative procedures.
15 Quantitative data Quantitative research has the potential advantage of increasing
scope for a broader study, and typically involves a large number of
subjects. Representation of information in numeral or statistical
format helped the researchers to generalize the results, and also
facilitated drawing a summary of the data, which supported the
phenomenon that is currently under investigation (Brannen, 2017).
In addition, this form of data representation also helped in
establishing a correlation between the exposure and the outcome,
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thus providing the opportunity of making predictions.
General Evaluation:
6. The study has a high
level of internal validity.
15 High internal validity Internal validity generally refers to how accurately a researcher is
able to perform an experiment, particularly whether the researchers
have been able to prevent the impact of confounding or
independent variables on the study findings. It has often been
established that less the chance for confounding different variables
in a study, greater is the internal validity of the research. The
researchers adjusted the variable of GCS that was bound to create
an impact on primary outcome.
7. The study has a high
level of external
validity.
8 No measures adopted External validity refers to the validity that is associated with
implementation of the findings and conclusions of a particular
scientific research, beyond the context of that research. In other
words, external validity also helps in generalizing the results of an
investigation across and to different people, situations, and times.
Random selection of research participants is generally considered
crucial for establishing external validity of a study (Sedgwick,
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2014). The process ensures that all selected participants have an
equal chance of being allocated to a particular group of intervention
or exposure. However, the researchers did not randomise the
participants, thus decreased external validity. In addition, adoption
of the method of convenience sampling also prevented presence of
high external validity since this sampling procedure ensured that all
research participants were selected based on their proximity and
accessibility to the site of research. Hence, the actual proportion of
children who had suffered from spinal injury were not recruited
properly since there were chances of underrepresentation or
overrepresentation of the population.
Overall Quality Part F
0- 10 = Low quality
11- 16 = Adequate quality
17- 21 = High quality
Total Part F
Score = 81
My Overall Assessment of Part F = 2
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Part G1: Evaluating the Data Analysis and Results in a Quantitative Research Report
*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
Quality Criteria Quality
Rating*
Identify Element
with evidence from article
State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. The data were rigorously
scored and prepared.
10 Descriptive statistical analysis
conducted
Use of descriptive statistics was a correct procedure since it
refers to a transitory descriptive coefficient that helps in
summarizing a data set that has been obtained. Descriptive
analysis was helpful in drawing a representation of the
convenience sample of the target population that comprised of
children suffering from traumatic brain injury (George &
Mallery, 2016). This method of data analysis helped the
researchers to break down the results in the form of measures
of variability and central tendency.
2. Good descriptive analyses
were conducted.
10 Cox modelling and logistic
regression
The Cox proportional-hazards model is fundamentally a
regression model frequently used in medical investigation for
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exploring the link between the patient’s survival time and
different predictor variables. Use of this strategy also helped
the researchers determine the presence of adverse effects of
spinal immobilization amid children (Cox, 2018).
In contrast, use of logistic regression model acted in the form
of a predictive analysis. It helped the researchers to provide
adequate explanation and description of data, between
independent and dependent variables.
3. Good hypothesis testing
procedures were used.
8 Yes While conducting the research, the researchers identified the
fact that complete spinal immobilization has been identified as
the cornerstone of care for all babies who are able to meet the
criteria for being transported to a trauma centre, with the
perception that maintenance of the human spine at a particular
position that limits its motion at the time of transport, helps in
preventing the onset and progression of further neurological
injury.
A matter of concern that made the researchers propose a
hypothesis was the fact that possible adverse impacts of injury
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on a steady trauma patient, in addition to the increase in
severity of pain among the patients, and the usage of
radiographic imaging for clearance of their cervical spine
(Britton & Barry, 2015). Complete spinal immobilization has
also been association with the onset of considerable pain,
which in turn might continue, beyond the duration of
immobilization. Furthermore, the researcher also based their
study on the fact that pain that is brought about by spinal
immobilization often gets confused with pain that occurs due
to injury, and eventually results in superfluous diagnostic
evaluations and ionizing radiation exposure (Hood &
Considine, 2015). Hence, this made the researchers establish
the hypothesis that spinal immobilization is associated with a
plethora of adverse effects in the patients.
4. The results are
comprehensive.
12 Children who were subjected to
spinal immobilization after an
event of traumatic brain injury
demonstrated increased severity of
The findings provided a clear description of the fact that there
were 461 injured children who had been screened for their
eligibility. The researchers also suggested that there was one
child present in the cohort, who suffered from spinal
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self-reported pain, and also
demonstrated an increased
likelihood of undergoing cervical
spine clearance.
immobilization and had been subjected to cervical spine injury.
The researchers recognized the fact that till date no
investigations had been conducted with the aim of exploring
the association between admissions to the emergency
department and spinal immobilization, disposition, and
quantity time. Therefore, previous researchers deduced that the
clearance measures for spinal immobilization have the
possibility of lengthening the stay in hospitals. However, the
findings of the current study were not congruent with the
previous results. The comprehensive results of this study
established that injured children, irrespective of their status of
immobilization, had comparable duration of stay in the
emergency departments. While the immobilized group
demonstrated an increased proportion of diagnostic
assessment, it is possible that an increase in time due to greater
proportions of testing amid the participants was
counterbalanced by a convenience of care that was generated
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arriving through EMS in spinal immobilization.
5. The results include sufficient
information.
15 Pain score
Cervical spine imaging
ED disposition
The researchers also stated that children who had been spine
immobilized demonstrated a one-point increased median pain
level, when compared to non–spineimmobilized children (3
versus 2), and demonstrated an increased likelihood of
undergoing to radiographic clearance of cervical spines (56.6%
versus 13.4%). Immobilised children demonstrated less
likelihood for being discharged home (58.4% versus 85.7%),
nonetheless had analogous median length of hospitalization
(2.8 versus 2.8 hours).
General Evaluation:
6. The data analysis represents a
good quantitative process.
15 Link established between all
adverse effects
Children who are able to sustain blunt trauma are more
commonly categorized in complete spinal immobilization, with
the aim of providing protection to cervical spine from
additional injury
Overall Quality Part G Total Part G My Overall Assessment of Part G = 3
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0- 9 = Low quality
10- 14 = Adequate quality
15- 18 = High quality
Score = 70
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Part E2: Evaluating the Research Design in a Qualitative Report
Quality Criteria Quality
Rating*
Identify Element
with evidence from article
State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. A research design guides
the conduct of the
qualitative study.
2. The choice of the
research design is
appropriate and justified.
General Evaluation:
3. The study used a
rigorous research design.
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Overall Quality Part E
0 – 4 = Low quality
5 –7 = Adequate
quality
8 – 9 = High quality
Total
Part E
Score =
My Overall Assessment of Part E =
*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
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Part F2: Evaluating the Participants and Data Collection in a Qualitative Report
Quality Criteria Quality
Rating*
Identify Element
with evidence from article
State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. The sampling strategy is
appropriate and justified.
2. The sample size is
appropriate and justified.
3. The data types are
appropriate.
4. The data are gathered
using rigorous qualitative
procedures.
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5. Data collection issues are
handled ethically and
thoughtfully.
General Evaluation:
6. The database provides
extensive and credible
information about the
central phenomenon.
Overall Quality Part F
0- 9 = Low quality
10- 14 = Adequate quality
15- 18 = High quality
Total
Part F
Score =
My Overall Assessment of Part F =
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*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
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HST2122 Health Research Methodology
Part G2: Evaluating the Data Analysis and Findings in a Qualitative Report
Quality Criteria Quality
Rating*
Identify Element
with evidence from article
State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. The analysis process used
rigorous qualitative
procedures.
2. Strategies were used to
validate the findings.
3. The findings include
description of the people,
places, or events in the
study.
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4. The findings include
appropriate themes about
the central phenomenon.
5. The findings relate
multiple themes to each
other.
General Evaluation:
6. The data analysis
represents a good
qualitative process.
7. The findings provide a
good exploration of the
central phenomenon.
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Overall Quality Part G
0- 10 = Low quality
11- 16 = Adequate quality
17- 21 = High quality
Total
Part G
Score =
My Overall Assessment of Part G = 2
*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
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Part H: Evaluating the Conclusion and Back Matter in a Research Report
Quality Criteria Quality
Rating*
Identify Element
with evidence from article
State Assessment with Reasoning
The Key Elements
1. The major results are
identified and
summarized.
9 Spinal immobilization has been
associated with several adverse
impacts on children
Spinal immobilization has been identified as one of the most common
procedures conducted in pre-hospital settings, amid patients who have
been subjected to traumatic injury. Although early implementation of
this procedure has been associated with an improvement in
neurological outcomes among the children, some of the common
adverse impacts are related to pain and increase in hospital stay.
2. The results are
thoughtfully examined in
relation to the literature
(and personal reflections
if appropriate).
16 The findings are congruent with the
previous scholarly evidences that form
the basis for the research
The findings of the prospective study were accurate in stating that
children who are generally immobilized after being subjected to a
traumatic brain injury, often report presence of more pain and
demonstrate an increased tendency of undergoing radiographic
assessment of their cervical spine. They are also more likely for being
admitted to healthcare settings, in comparison to their non-
immobilised counterparts, notwithstanding of the severity of the
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injury. Pain is significantly concomitant with immobilization, and is
not comparable to the pain that occurs among children due to the
traumatic injury. The study findings also elaborated on the fact that
children who had been placed in immobilization were found to suffer
from more severe pain, at the time of their presentation to the ED.
The study findings also elaborated on the fact that children who were
provided care in prehospital setting had a tendency of suffering from
more painful injuries notwithstanding analogous GCSs and PTSs. In
addition, they demonstrated an increased like and are thus more likely
to be immobilized and to report higher pain on presentation to the
ED. Notwithstanding the ED disposition of children, spinal
immobilization was associated to greater reported pain. Hence, it is
probable that spinal immobilization will act in the form of a causative
factor for demonstration of pain on admitting the patients to the ED.
3. Appropriate implications
of the results for practice
are identified and
justified.
12 [Implications or applications for
practice]
The study provides adequate evidence of the presence of correlation
between immobilization and the occurrence of radiographic
clearance. This in turn has been found independent of different
markers of the severity of spinal injury. Findings of the research can
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be utilized by healthcare professionals to accurately diagnose whether
self-reported pain among patients has occurred due to the injury or is
a manifestation of the spinal immobilization. This will help in
enhancing the plan of care and will also improve patient outcomes.
4. Thoughtful critiques of
the study’s limitations are
provided and appropriate
for the research approach.
12 Sampling method
All factors not explored
Convenience sampling prevented the researchers from obtaining data
from the entire population, thus might have made the groups under-
represented or over-represented, thereby affecting the data quality.
Owing to the fact that the selection process might have a chance of
bias, sampling error might have originated. This sampling will also
prevent the researchers from making generalizing conclusions about
the results.
5. Suitable implications of
the results for future
research are identified
and justified.
12 Causal association between
immoblisation and pain to be
established
Further studies must be conducted in order to establish a better
relationships between actual injuries of a child, in addition to
different global markers that are related to severity of traumatic
injury.
General Evaluation:
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6. The interpretations are
consistent with the
study’s results and
limitations.
9 Link established The researchers concluded that all independent markers are correlated
to pain increase, imaging study use for clearance, and hospital
admissions
7. The back matter is
appropriate for the study
report.
1 No No supplementary material have been added at the end of the research
report
Overall Quality Part H
0- 10 = Low quality
11- 16 = Adequate quality
17- 21 = High quality
Total
Part H
Score =
71
My Overall Assessment of Part H = 2
*Quality Rating Options: 0 = Fail 1 = Poor 2= Good 3 = Excellent
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