Overview of Research

Plan

Saniya Zaid 0808727

Why and how I chose this topic?

While I worked in the hospital, I looked after a couple pregnant women who were drug abusers. I wanted to find out their care plan which would differ from other cases and what were the common issues that raised in these situations. I wanted to find out their backgrounds of drug abuse, their choices while pregnant and breastfeeding, without any judgments.

Research Question?

What are some factors that cause pregnant and breastfeeding women to use and misuse social drugs?

Why I chose the specific research design and methods?

The method for this plan was Qualitative research methods. This type of method will be used to gain the information required for this project. Qualitative research explores ones attitudes, experiences and behaviors, through methods such as interviews and focus groups. Such methods will be the main tools in gathering data in order to gain a conclusion to the research question. By using qualitative methods, interviews and focus groups will attempt to get an in depth opinion from participants. In this case, dealing with such delicate topics like drugs and pregnancies, it is important maintain professionalism and yet portray empathy. Qualitative deals with behaviors, attitudes and experiences, fewer people may take part in the research, but the contact with these people tends to last longer.

How the study proposes to analyze the data:

At the completion of the research process, the data will be collated and analyzed. The answers from each interview from each participant will be put together to form a solid result. The data found will be sectioned into month by month results for each women at different stages of pregnancy and well onto postnatal care and data found by each regional area, therefore the outcome shows a total result. Once collated the data will be looked into looking at patterns or trends in regards to consumption of drugs and matching this to certain stages of pregnancy and postnatal care. Results will be analyzed by region– to see if there are certain areas in New Zealand where using and misusing drugs during pregnancy seems to be more frequent, and will also be analyzed by month. This is to see if at certain stages during pregnancy a woman is more likely to use drugs compared to other stages. By asking a question also in the study in relation to what situation the woman was in which lead to using social drugs, will provide information on trends in regards to at what situations a pregnant woman will use drugs. The results will be collected and presented in a range of reports and graphs.

The implications of the research study to contribute to professional/discipline practices:

I highly doubt that there will be any implications of this study to impact the health care systems negatively, in fact this study will benefit them. It will give them a better insight to current issues happening in communities and with knowledge they can help and provide a better and safer care to these people, especially women who are drug abusers.

My understanding of Qualitative and Quantitative Research:

Quantitative research involves gathering data that is absolute, such as numerical data, so that it can be examined in as unbiased a manner as possible. I think quantitative research is to be able separate things easily so that they can be counted and modeled statistically. And qualitative research, is subjective form of research, in which the research allows themselves to introduce their own bias to help form a more complete picture. While quantitative research generally knows exactly what it’s looking for before the research begins, in qualitative research the focus of the study may become more apparent as time progresses.

Ethics

All pregnant and breastfeeding women participating in this study will need to sign a consent form for their information to be taken, collected and published while still remaining anonymous. The New Zealand Health and Disabilities Ethics Committee would need to approve this study in order to start the research. This would be given to the multi region Ethics committee, as the study will cross over multiple regions in New Zealand. (New Zealand Health and Disabilities Ethics Committee, 2011). If and when the women feel uncomfortable during the study, they are able to discontinue form the research. If anyone participating in the study feels any issues are brought up that they need further help with, there will be a free counseling service provided to the research participants. The interviewers will be fully trained with impeccable interview skills and techniques and how to ensure the participants not to feel judged or pressured based on their decisions and the answers they provide throughout the study.

Reflections:

This semester I learnt about the importance of qualitative and quantitative research and where and when it needs to be applied in research. I learnt how to write a literature review and design a research plan. The online activities also helped me understand the workings of methods of research and enquiry. I have learnt some very important tools which I’m sure ill use later in my studies.