Introduction

There is still misunderstanding about the critique process of any research or about

the purpose of it. Research critique is not just a summary of a study but rather a careful

appraisal of its merits and flaws 1. Nurse researchers conduct a critique to plan and

implement a study, whereas nurse educators conduct critique to expand their knowledge

and to develop and refine the educational process 2.

In this paper, I will conduct a critique process for specific research that is related to

my master program of acute care nursing, in order to discuss major strengths and

weaknesses of this research.

Abstract

- The abstract was put in the beginning of the research, and it has a appropriate

length (about 193 words), ant it considered as strength point for this research

since that it is better for any abstract to be 100 -200 words.

- The researchers used the advanced organized method of abstract with specific

headings (Purpose, Method, Results, Conclusion, and Keywords). This method of

abstracting enable the readers of this research to understand the content in more

organized manner, rather than traditional method of abstracting that included the

summary of study in single paragraph.

- The abstract of this study included the purpose in clear and concise manner.

- The abstract of this study doesn’t include hypotheses or research questions. It was

better to researcher to include them.

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- Also, the abstract included the method and design of this study (descriptive

correlational), and the number of sample also was included without mentioning

any clear inclusion or exclusion criteria.

Also the instrument (Kogan’s attitude toward old people scale) which was used is

clearly mentioned in addition to the major statistical analysis used (ANOVA,

Pearson correlation, descriptive statistics).

- Major results of this study were written in the abstract.

- Conclusion was clearly stated at the end of the abstract, in addition to major

implications of researchers.

Title

- The title of this study was:” Jordanian nurse’s attitudes toward older patients in

acute care settings”.

- The title was clearly and concisely stated, but the independent variables are not

mentioned which are socio-demographics and nursing work characteristics. This

can be interpreted as that researchers wants the reader of this research to give

his/her attention to the focus or major problem which is (nurse’s attitudes toward

older patients).

- On the other hand, the population of this study was clearly identified in the title

which is ( older patients in acute care settings).

- The number of words of the title was 10 words , and this is considered as one of

strengths of this title , since that it is better for any title to be 15 word or less.

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Statement of the problem

- The purpose of this study was: “To identify and describe Jordanian nurse’s

attitudes toward older patients in acute care settings and to examine the effect of

selected socio-demographics and nursing work characteristics on their attitudes.

- The purpose was clear and concise, and all independent variable (socio-demographics,

Nursing work characteristics) and dependent variables (Jordanian nurse’s attitude)

are present.

- Also study population was clearly identified in the statement of purpose as (older

patients in acute care settings).

- The location of statement of purpose in this study was after literature review section,

and this considered as one of weaknesses of this study ,because it better for the

researchers to put statement of purpose at introduction section because that literature

review will be conducted depending on the purpose of study , So statement of the

purpose must precede the literature review section.

- The focus or major problem of this study (nurse’s attitude toward older patients in

acute care setting), It is highly significant to nursing at all aspects, as following:

1) Nursing Practice:

Knowing attitudes of nurse toward older patients has either positive or negative

effective on communication and direct or indirect care. Positive attitudes of nurse

may enhance therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient, as a consequence

the benefits of any nursing interventions implemented will be maximized .On the

other hand, the negative attitudes of nurse toward older patients may lead the nurse

–directly or indirectly- to harm patients either physiologically or psychologically.

2) Nursing Education:

Studying nursing attitudes, either positive or negative attitudes, can help nurse

educators to develop a teaching project or program about geriatric nursing

including therapeutic communication techniques and special aspects of direct care.

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3) Nursing Administration:

Studying nurse’s attitude toward older patients may help the nurse’s administrators

to develop special policies for how to deal and care of older patients. Also , It assist

nursing administrators to enhance the distribution ratio between nurse and patient,

since that assigning one nurse for one or two older patients is better than assigning

one nurse to large group of patient, and enhance nurse’s attitude toward these older

patients.

Research Questions

- The research questions of this study are:

1) What are Jordanian nurses’ attitudes toward older patients in acute care setting?

2) What are the effects of selected socio-demographics and nursing work

characteristics on nurses’ attitude toward these older patients?

- These research questions were clearly and concisely stated and included all independent

and dependant variables in addition to population of this study.

- Again, the researcher put the research questions after literature review section. It was

better to put them before, because literature review will be conducted depending on

theses questions and must follow them in writing any research.

Variables

- The major variables of this study are:

Independent variables: Socio- demographics and nursing work characteristics.

Dependent variables: Nurses’ attitudes toward older patients in acute care settings.

- The variables were concisely and clearly identified in the title and statement of purpose.

But the independent variable (nurse attitudes) was not conceptually defined in the

literature review , it was better to define it conceptually to enable the readers of this

research to know what is definition of nursing attitudes established for this study.

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Conceptual and theoretical framework

- There are no specific conceptual or theoretical frameworks were used in this study.

- Absence of any conceptual or theoretical models is considered as on of major weaknesses

of this study. There are many theories or models that may describe nurses’ attitude

toward older patients such as congruity theory which developed by Osgood and

Tannenbaum and deals with attitude evaluation and interrelationships.

Also it was better if the researchers to integrate specific nursing theories such as

Humanistic Nursing Communication Theory, which focus on interpersonal

communication between Nurses and clients, Peer and colleagues.

Literature Review

- The major concept of this study which is (Nurses’ attitudes) was not conceptually or

operationally defined in the literature review section, and this is considered as one of

major weaknesses of this research.

- The researchers in the literature review included many of previous studies that strongly

associated with the purpose and research questions of this study and describe the

relationship between independent and dependent variables . But most of these studies are

somewhat old studies( some studies appeared in literature review were published about

more than 10 years before conducting this study such as (taylor& Hamed 1978, Slvien

1991, Ady etal 1991, Treharne 1990, Seymour 1991, Glaaspole & Aman 1990).

It was best to review more recent (up –to –date) studies rather than old studies.

- The reference listed were for the most part from primary sources, not from secondary

sources. And this considered as one of major strengths of this study.

- The researchers doesn’t critique each reviewed study include strengths, weakness,

limitations of the design; conflicts; essential components of the design like size

and type of sample, instruments its validity and reliability.

The researcher only mentioned the significant results of each study in literature

review without describing the studies in more details.

- No relevant models or theories were discussed in the literature review.

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Ethical consideration and issues of study

- The researchers stated that this study is approved by Jordan University of Science and

Technology research and ethics committee. And this is considered as one of major

strengths of this study because the researchers are ensured that research plans are

ethically acceptable.

- Informed consents were obtained from all participants of this study. And this ensures

that all participants have the right of self-determination and ensures that all participants

have adequate information about study and they are voluntary to participate.

- The researchers stated that any personal data collected to the primary researcher would

be destroyed after study completed. This ensures the right of privacy for participants.

- The researchers told the participants that their responses will be confidential. This

means that information collected from participants will not be publically reported or

accessed by parties not involved in the research, and this ensures the right of privacy

for participants.

Methodology

Type and Design of the study

- The design of this study is quantitative descriptive correlational study, and I think that

this design is appropriate because the study focus on describing the relationships

between two or more variables, without seeking to establish causal connections.

- Also we can say that this study is considered as non-experimental study since that no

manipulation or intervention introduced to the participants.

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- The researchers didn’t clearly mentioned any techniques to control external factors, for

example attitudes of nurses may be affected by the environmental factors of the hospitals

or by relationships with physicians , and this may affect the accuracy of correlation that

may results in this study. And these external variables are controlled usually by

constancy of conditions.

- Since those researchers didn’t use randomization in choosing participants, the threat of

selection bias will be clear and maximized, and also the representiveness of population

will be not appropriate, and this will affect the external validity of this study.

Setting

- The setting of this study was “three major public hospitals located in northern area of

Jordan “.

- The setting is appropriate for this study, but it was better for the researchers to extend the

setting to the home of patients, because there are many older patients who are cared by

private nurses at their houses, it is very important to include these nurses in this study.

- The researcher didn’t describe the settings where the study was done. But it was better to

describe these setting (hospitals) in more details including , the capacity of acute care

departments, number of nurses at acute care units, and percentage of older patients in these

hospitals.

Population and sample

- The population of this study was all nurse working in the medical and surgical units of the

previously mentioned hospitals ( three major hospitals in northern area of Jordan).

- The final sample of this study was 143 nurses.

- The researchers didn’t mention if power analysis was conducted or not to determine sample

size.

- The method of sampling for this research was not mentioned in this study, but the

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researchers reported that they selected the sample from a list of all nurses working in

selected units provided by head of nursing departments of each hospital

- I think that sampling method which was used for this study is convenience sampling, which

considered as weakest method for sampling and increase the probability of selection bias in

this study.

It was better for the researchers to use probability sampling method to control threat of

selection bias.

- No inclusion criteria clearly identified by the researchers in this study. It is considered as

one of weaknesses of this study.

- Also, No exclusion criteria clearly identified by the researchers.

- Some of key characteristics of the sample were described such as gender, age, marital

status, income, years of experience and educational qualifications.

Discussion

- The researchers interpreted all results of this study in comprehensible and clear

manner, including the interpretation the correlation of each independent variable with

dependent variables.

- The researchers discussed the major findings of this study and compared them with

previous researches and studies, with exploring studies that support or doesn’t support

the findings of this study.

- The researchers stated that generalizability of this study can be enhanced through

increase in sample and including nurses of our sectors.

- The researchers mentioned the major limitations of this study including :

1) The instrument which used (Kogan’s scale) may be inappropriate with Jordanian

culture.

2) The sample was relatively small and didn’t include nurse from military and private

sectors.

- The implications of this study were also mentioned, including:

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1) Nursing education: basic gerontological nursing should be incorporate din both

undergraduate and graduate programs.

2) Continuous education in clinical settings especially for nurses who are young or

with low experience.

- The researchers didn’t include any implications in terms of nursing administration.

- The researchers recommended that there is need for further researches and studies to

with larger sample to improve generalizability of findings. Also, the researchers

recommended the need for further exploration of gender issues and unit type in relation

to the nurse’s attitude toward older patients.

References

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1) Pilot D., Beck C., Essentials of nursing research:method, appraisal, and utilaization.6th

ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.

2) Burns N., Grove S., The practice of nursing research: conduct,critique,utiliazation.5th

ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.

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