Evidence-Based Practice: Critique of Mental Health Transport Research

This report presents a critique of a research article focusing on the lived experiences of involuntary transport under mental health legislation. The critique evaluates the study's recruitment and sampling methods, data collection techniques, ethical considerations, data analysis, and findings. Strengths and weaknesses of the research are identified, including the use of semi-structured interviews, data triangulation, and inductive thematic analysis. The report also discusses the trustworthiness and confirmability of the research findings, highlighting the researchers' efforts to ensure the study's credibility and neutrality. The critique concludes by assessing the overall quality and relevance of the research to the field of mental health nursing, noting its contributions to understanding the complexities of involuntary transport experiences.

Running head: ARTICLE CRITIQUE 1
Article Critique
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Article Critique
Recruitment and Sampling
The population used in the research was sufficiently described. The study targeted five
groups to provide diverse participants for the research. The participants include consumers of
mental health, carers, case workers, police officers, and paramedics. Consumers of mental health
are the persons who have mental health issues (Bradbury et al., 2017). On the other hand, carers
are the people that look after those with mental illnesses and ought to have experienced
involuntary transportation specifically with the contemporary MHA (Mental Health Act). Case
workers are mental health nurses while police officers incorporated into the study are those that
must have transported people under mental health regulation. Subsequently, the sample size was
sufficient as sixteen people were interviewed. The setting has been described comprehensively.
The participants were mainly from Norther Rivers area of NSW (New South Wales). Saturation
was achieved because further data collection and analysis would not yield useful results.
Data Collection
Data collection was done through semi-structured interviews. It was the most
appropriate since semi-structured interviews are usually open. Furthermore, they allow additional
information to be included in the interview. Questions are prepared prior to the interview which
enables the interviewer to be confident during the session. Semi-structured interviews allow the
interviewees to convey ideas in their own terms (Brinkmann, 2014). Such interviews provide
qualitative data which is comparable and reliable. In the same token, the interviews promote two-
way communication where interviewees can seek clarification by asking questions (Low, 2013).
Apart from confirming known facts, semi-structured interviews provide an opportunity to learn.

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The information provided not only provides answers but also reasons and explanations.
Consequently, the use of this method facilitates the discussion of sensitive matters.
There was an effort to attain data triangulation. Notably, this is because the semi-
structured interviews were recorded (Bradbury et al., 2017). The recording of semi-structured
interviews is a strength to the study due to various reasons. Generally, recording interviews
provides accurate results because all answers and comments are saved for future reference. The
researchers can repeatedly listen to the interviews to get maximum information (McIntosh and
Morse, 2015). Consequently, body language, speech speed and tone can be evaluated. The
recorded semi-structured interviews are imperative in transcription of the research answers. It
makes it possible to include applicable quotes in the study report. Lastly, the recording of the
semi-structured interviews minimized behavioral distortions and bias. Therefore, this shows that
data gathered was relevant to the research.
Nonetheless, audio recording interviews is a weakness to the study because it depends
on equipment which may fail. Therefore, this might make the session unsuccessful. Some
interviewees may be nervous therefore becoming reluctant to convey useful information. It is
disadvantageous to use audio recording because it does not capture non-verbal communication.
In the same token, transcription might be necessary which results in extra cost making the
research uneconomical (McIntosh and Morse, 2015). Inexperienced interviewers may make
inaccurate statements that might be misinterpreted leading to collection irrelevant data. Lastly,
the interviewees might also demand to record the interviews and leak the information to probable
interviewees. Therefore, this interferes with the research’s integrity.
Contrariwise, it is time-consuming to collect and analyze data when utilizing semi-
structured interviews. There is also the possibility that the small sample size used for the research

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is not representative of the actual population. Semi-structured interviews are unique making it
difficult to compare the obtained results. Likewise, interviewing skills are necessary and
adequate preparation is required so that questions are not leading or prescriptive. The method is
resource intensive, and also researchers have to ensure confidentiality of information.
Ethical Considerations
There was institutional ethics consent for the study. Ethical considerations are critical in
any research. First, ethical considerations help avoid data fabrication, therefore, promoting the
pursuit of trust and knowledge which is the key aim of the research (Cacciattolo, 2015). The
rights of the research participants were upheld. For instance, Carers of persons with mental
health illnesses were incorporated into the study on a voluntary basis. Only the people interested
were included. The consent of the participants was sought before inclusion into the study. All
interested people were able to contact researchers by email or phone and conveyed their
willingness to participate in the study.
Notably, ethical consideration is vital because it fosters collaborative work, therefore,
promoting an environment of accountability, mutual respect, and trust amongst researchers
(Marshall and Rossman, 2014). Researchers must ensure they consider ethics to make the public
believe and support the research. Typically, people are concerned with knowing if the
researchers adhered to the proper guidelines including compliance with legislation, safety, and
human rights. Therefore, ethical considerations greatly influence the research's integrity (Corbin
et al., 2014). Observing ethical considerations, upholding the rights of the research's contributors
and designing the study in a manner that maximizes benefits to participants is a strength of the
study. It ensured that the study was appropriately conducted.
Data Analysis and Findings

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Data Analysis
Data analysis techniques have been sufficiently described in the study. Transcription of
the interview recordings was done. Afterward, an inductive thematic analysis was performed.
Investigators independently coded the transcripts (Campbell et al., 2013). The individualized
coding of the interviews presents the possibility of bias. Additionally, this is because each
researcher identifies phrases and words which seem appropriate. Codes obtained were condensed
and compiled through the use of an iterative procedure of transcript analysis (Bradbury et al.,
2017). Overlapping and frequent occurring codes were used as a basis for the system of
reduction and categorization. The chief investigator evaluated the data's thematic structure
through the use of subgroup analysis. Initially, the data was split into two categories, that is,
service users (carers and consumers) and service providers (paramedics, police and case
workers). Moreover, the thematic structure for every researcher was evaluated separately and
comparison done across groups. The analysis facilitated unique and shared experiences across all
participants' categories (Clarke and Braun, 2014). Therefore, after comparison of thematic
structures, three distinctive subgroups emerged. These were service providers, carers, and
consumers (paramedics, police and case workers).
The inductive thematic analysis was compatible with nature of the data gathered.
Conventionally, data collected through semi-structured interviews is coded to obtain relevant
themes (Ando, Cousins and Young, 2014). However, coding of interviews can result in the loss
of the original meaning of information. Furthermore, people might be unable to comprehend the
codes if they are complicated.
The inductive thematic analysis was appropriate for the study because it helped in
providing suitable results. It is flexible therefore suitable for multiple researchers (Vaismoradi,

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Turunen and Bondas, 2013). Conversely, thematic analysis has reduced interpretive power in
case it does not include theoretical framework. It is difficult for researchers to make claims in
regards to language use. Although the method is flexible, the flexibility may lead to incoherence
and inconsistency particularly when formulating themes.
Findings
The findings of the research were effectively summarized. It was found out that police
response is frequently perceived as forceful. Consumers noted that they are humiliated by harsh
police treatment. Similarly, the utilization of police vehicles to transport mentally ill people is
inappropriate. All groups under study revealed that it is not necessary to use police cars if the
mentally ill persons are non-violent.
Analysis of data provided a true reflection of the aspect under investigation. Analysis
revealed that gentle communication is paramount to ensuring positive intervention. Carers were
uncomfortable in regards to the involuntary admission of loved ones. Furthermore, the system of
transporting people with mental ailments is not inclusive (Bradbury et al., 2017). Carers feel
isolated because there are reduced government services. On the other hand, themes are logically
connected forming an integrated and convincing whole. Service providers are frustrated mainly
because of inability to deal with psychological health. However, follow-up makes the
transportation of mentally sick people effective.
Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness is disclosing if research is dependable, confirmable, transferable and
credible. The research utilized triangulation to ensure the study's discoveries are credible.
Methods utilized to facilitate credibility were sufficient, appropriate and adequately described.
The researchers have well-documented research decision processes and procedures to show that

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the findings are confirmable and auditable (Bradbury et al., 2017). Confirmability ensured that
the study is not biased and that it is neutral. The researchers have highlighted every data analysis
step to justify all decisions made. Therefore, this helps in determining the research's findings
accurately.

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References
Ando, H., Cousins, R., & Young, C. (2014). Achieving saturation in thematic analysis:
Development and refinement of a codebook. Comprehensive Psychology, 3, 03-CP.
Bradbury, J., Hutchinson, M., Hurley, J., & Stasa, H. (2017). Lived experience of involuntary
transport under mental health legislation. International journal of mental health
nursing, 26(6), 580-592.
Brinkmann, S. (2014). Interview. In Encyclopedia of critical psychology (pp. 1008-1010).
Springer New York.
Cacciattolo, M. (2015). Ethical considerations in research. In The Praxis of English Language
Teaching and Learning (PELT) (pp. 61-79). SensePublishers, Rotterdam.
Campbell, J. L., Quincy, C., Osserman, J., & Pedersen, O. K. (2013). Coding in-depth
semistructured interviews: Problems of unitization and intercoder reliability and
agreement. Sociological Methods & Research, 42(3), 294-320.
Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2014). Thematic analysis. In Encyclopedia of critical psychology (pp.
1947-1952). Springer New York.
Corbin, J., Strauss, A., & Strauss, A. L. (2014). Basics of qualitative research. Sage.
Low, J. (2013). Unstructured and semi-structured interviews in health research. Researching
health: Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods, 87-105.
Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (2014). Designing qualitative research. Sage publications.
McIntosh, M. J., & Morse, J. M. (2015). Situating and constructing diversity in semi-structured
interviews. Global qualitative nursing research, 2, 2333393615597674.

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Vaismoradi, M., Turunen, H., & Bondas, T. (2013). Content analysis and thematic analysis:
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sciences, 15(3), 398-405.