Qualitative Research Analysis
Hypothesis: A large number of administrators and care providers has limited knowledge of CAM and thus so not frequently use them in veteran facilities. CAM in most cases is not used because there is limited evidence of their benefits. Additionally, the care providers who use them seem less professional to the outside world. In order to come up with changes in relation to the perception of CAM, there must be a cultural change and the deliberate planning to make sure that feasibility and buy inform staff, as well as patients, are effected (Fletcher et al. 2014). The incorporation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to a larger organization like the Veterans Health Administration requires change and planning to enable transparency and effectiveness of the staff at work. As of now, there is little knowledge about the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patient care providers and the administration knowledge on complementary and alternative medicine therapies and execution.
Purpose: The intent of the qualitative study is to analyze attitude, perceived barriers, and knowledge to CAM program implementation within VHA providers as well as administrators at the large representative VHA facility.
Definition of methodology: The content in the purpose statement and research questions are designed in open-ended questions and it is semi-structured. The purpose statements entail important information such as attitude, perception, and knowledge related to CAM. Some of the questions that help to design the research methods such as what is CAM therapies help in developing the methodology of the research. The information in the research question entails the participant who was present and ready to participate in the study. The participants were informed about the research and gave the consent to go ahead. The participant was asked to complete a questionnaire.
Objectives: The purpose of the study was to examine the quality of information, outlook, and work of the administration and the enablers of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility and they are integrating CAM therapy among the VHA patients. This study is a mixed-method.
Data collection: There were 28 participants chosen to represent various levels of services that are given by various departments. To get facts we had to undergo various types of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies with the Veterans patients. A semi-structured format was used and was digitally recorded, transcribed, and coded for themes for the participants who were interviewed (Fletcher et al. 2014). The interview took 15 minutes or more depending on the comfortability and time taken by the interviewee to answer some of the questions. The interviews were recorded and coded by a research assistant with the two members of the research team. Then later they bring the information together in order to identify a common pattern. The interviews were averaged 15 minutes depending on the response of the participant. Later the interviews were transcribed verbatim by the research assistant and entered into the NVivo. E every interview was coded separately by at least 2 members of the research team to come up with the initial set of themes. Finally, the three team members met as the group to refine the designed codes and then continue theme coding until the required census were met.
Methods: Immediately after the institutional review board approval, the VHA patient care providers as well as administrators were picked to represent the spectrum of the positions as well as services comprising of direct care providers heads of the departments as well as higher-level administrators. More so, the individuals speculated to be in support of the CAM were approached together with those with the potentially negative views towards CAM. The participants were also contacted through emails. He willing participants provided the informed consent and also interviewed in the private areas. The semi-structured interviews were recorded in a digital form through the research team member from April to November of 2013. Participants were also asked similar open-ended questions.
Selected statistical test: The qualitative research used Vertiban transcription and Vvivo. Vertiban transcription is the art of converting the spoken word into text is a way that the message is captured exactly the way it has been spoken. Vertiban means capturing not only what is said on the recording but also how it was said and in what circumstance (Fletcher et al. 2014). Verbatim is a beneficial style of transcription to students or researchers who need transcripts that are primarily true to recording however uncluttered by unnecessary details. The study also made use of NVivo to organize find and analyze the insights in unstructured as well as data like interviews and open-ended survey responses and social content where deep analysis of data is required. NVivo is crucial in this qualitative research as it helps in the analysis of numerical or unstructured data. This software allows the researcher to sort as well as arrange the data. It also examines the relationship in the data and then combines it with linking searching, modeling, and shaping. NVivo supports the data formats including audio files that are recorded during the verbatim process
Results: The pattern that reoccurs was picked because it provides important information about the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), importance to the patients and the staff, and other prevailing factors like lack of job descriptions for the complementary and alternative medicine, leadership levels, and the results in a normal culture (Fletcher et al. 2014). Participants were involved in various activities such as yoga, massage, meditation, and acupuncture as complementary and alternative medicine that will lead to the promotion of the patient to the Veterans Health Administration. The knowledge regarding the CAM therapies was actually available at the site however varied widely. For instance, massage therapy was frequently mentioned by the participants. Many participant were vague about the other CAM therapies until they were shown the non-inclusive list of the CAM examples. The knowledge regarding the CAM showed the personal experience mostly cited as what the participants had recommended for the client instead of what the participants have used themselves. Additionally, the participants outlined different benefits of CAM which reflected a technique that cares for a whole person including the body, mind as well as spirit. The compassionate part which is lacking in moist healthcare facility was frequently mentioned. Further various factors were mentioned as the potential barrier to access or implementation of CAM. The lack of evidence in support of various CAM was frequently mentioned. A lot of participants were not aware of the presence of research publications and randomized controlled trials which indicates the efficacy of CAM (Fletcher et al. 2014). Lack of leadership as acknowledged as the facilitator or barrier to implementation of CAM as well.
Sample size: The study is limited because of the sample size. There were only 28 participants and this is a small number compared to the general population of the Midwest. The limited size of the population may result in limited opinions or views on the subject. The 28 individuals were picked to represent positions and services as far as CAM therapies are concerned. Furthermore, the study was conducted at a single site in the Midwest.
Conclusion: With the presence of various challenges, the importance of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and the need for expansion were acknowledged. Based on the information obtained from the participants it shows the need to expand the CAM in order to meet the standards required by the Veterans Health Administration for it to be an effective health care provider across the VHA.
References
Erren, T. C., & Bourne, P. E. (2007). Ten Simple Rules for a Good Poster Presentation. PLoS Computational Biology, 3(5), e102.
Fletcher, C. E., Mitchinson, A. R., Trumble, E. L., Hinshaw, D. B., & Dusek, J. A. (2014). Perceptions of providers and administrators in the Veterans Health Administration regarding complementary and alternative medicine. Medical care, 52(0 5 0 0 0 0 0-0 0 0 0-0), S91.
http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.0030102 Scientific Poster PowerPoint Templates. Retrieved from https://www.makesigns.com/SciPosters_Templates.aspx