Quantitative and Qualitative Research in Healthcare
Most of the scientific studies will either utilise quantitative or qualitative research methodologies to present data findings therein. Singularly, healthcare research usually utilises the quantitative method because the information is verifiable. Simply, the quantitative methodology uses variables that are quantified as numerical data that can be statistically analysed with different permutation and communication tools (Koberich et al. 2010). The central motive for healthcare research over-reliance on the quantitative methods is that it produces factual and quantifiable-outcome data. For instance, when a drug or treatment is tested on a specific focused-group population, statistical tools offer the analytical platform to launch objective results applicable to the larger populations (Goertzen, 2017). The statistical tools linked with the quantitative research fits the maximisation of dependent variables on the rationale of independence of data capability; it improves the application of confirmed interventions towards improving the patient quality and quantity of a patient.
Furthermore, quantitative research methods in healthcare eliminate nuance in data analysis and interpretation process; and offer evidence-based health research background. It means that any study conducted in quantitative rationale, it culminates to (Goertzen, 2017). In other words, it simplifies a complex phenomenon into reduced and straight-forward measurable numbers. Moreover, the use of the evidence-based scientific method in quantitative research helps come up with reliable drugs and procedures appropriate for treating different diseases therein. These evidence-based practice guidance results from the systematic and predominant review of the statistical tools and analysis of manipulated trials (Apuka, 2017). Ultimately, the use of quantitative methods can be combined through a meta-analysis process to utilise previous study findings in gathering enough evidence to commence certified utilisation of procedures and treatment therein.
On the other hand, qualitative research methods cuts across social and cultural dimensions in understanding different theoretical phenomenon through descriptions. Actually, it is mostly perceived to be an antagonist to the quantitative research method because it heavily relies on participants’ views and experiences in a natural phenomenal setup (Leah, 2018). Launched and verified by social anthropologists and sociologists, the qualitative research methodology can be applied on different health topics to offer accurate and factual participants’ information to aid the formulation of different policies, treatments and drugs’ use contextual framework in clinical nursing at large.
Moreover, the use of qualitative research methods in healthcare research instils the human-touch atmosphere in synthesising treatments and drugs’ administering rationales. Practically, qualitative methods in healthcare research utilise the ontological and epistemological considerations for all stakeholders to launch a change in the change project issue targeted b the study. For instance, according to Flick (2006), the grounded theory aims at developing and generating all-inclusive explanations situations that are a reality in any social and cultural setting. Thus, since nursing is anchored onto understanding, caring, having patience, trust and flexibility, among others; these definitions are easily assimilated into qualitative research approaches. The feelings, views, experiences and meanings of the participants are well-captured to come up with solutions and strategies towards a thorny issue in the healthcare setting.
Lastly, the use of triangulation is very useful in collecting actual and factual data. This chronicles around the use of different data collection methods fused with theories, investigation and triangulation of data (Leah, 2018). In healthcare, while using a large data sample, qualitative research through triangulation captures the most delicate details through both the statistical and theoretical values that translate into actual certified treatment, policy formulation, and drugs’ administering solutions therein.
Reflecting, the use of qualitative and quantitative research methods can be used simultaneously to address touchy health issue concerns such as the presence of family during a resuscitation. Singularly, the ideology behind allowing family during resuscitation sprout up in 1983 at Foote Hospital in Michigan, United States of America (Al-Mutair, 2017). It began when two people refused to leave their loved one at the hospital during resuscitation and appealed to be with the patient during the health crisis. Subsequently, in 1993, the American Emergency Nurses Association became the first proposer for evidence-based guidelines supporting the presence of family during resuscitation. Ultimately, globally, many different medical bodies support the presence of family during resuscitation (Carroll, 2014). Thus, the presence of family during resuscitation gives the patient the physical, emotional and social support and instils trust and empathy notions to the patient during resuscitation.
To justify the importance of family presence benefits of family presence during resuscitation, quantitative studies are more utilised and reliable than the qualitative method. For instance, an electronic comprehensive search strategy for peer-reviewed articles talking about “the presence of family during resuscitation” as key words was conducted. Thereafter, by the use of review questions, the most utilised statistical regression methods were used to come up with a final report about the articles selected (Mohamed et al. 2016). The quantitative report samples were analysed further with questions about the articles’ study design, procedure and materials, research questions, literature review, study results and recommendations (Al-Mutair, 2017). According to the study, out of the articles sampled supporting the presence of family during resuscitation, more than half had utilised quantitative method to ascertain the findings. Specifically, the articles that supported the presence of family during resuscitation were originally from America. Clearly, the articles coined that presence of family during resuscitation helps the nurses/medical practitioners in obtaining the patients’ history, there is increased hostility care, high professionalism, bonds the nurses and the patients family, facilitates educational information to the family about the patients’ condition, and it reduces family fear and anxiety (Koberich et al. 2010). Also, the family members’ presence during resuscitation assures both the patient and the family that the best treatment is being offered. On a sad note, the presence of family during resuscitation offers the family the opportunity to bid goodbye to their beloved ones if death occurs.
On the other hand, proper scrutiny and sampling of peer-reviewed articles proposing family to be allowed around during resuscitation, qualitative studies were used to come up with conclusive assertion. For instance, Mohamed et al. (2016) argue that qualitative studies helped in identifying personal factors such as management of cultural differences and crisis between the nurses and family/patient were major concerns respondents raised to support family presence during resuscitation. Moreover, the qualitative method guides the research in identifying organisational social aspects that negatively affect nurses to comply with family presence during resuscitation. Besides, the workplace environment with teamwork and highly skilled colleges increase behavioural change towards family presence perceptions (Al-Mutair et al. 2013). Notably, previous empirical studies reveal that qualitative studies proved that nurses were happier when the family was present to help control or handle the patient effectively for the best medication or treatment to those stubborn patients.
To sum, the unit on the clinical nursing issue has been an outstanding learning experience. Remarkably, the utilisation of different research methods in asserting facts and truths has been an eye-opening personal topic. For example, the quantitative and qualitative study samples reveal that the presence of family during resuscitation proposal has not been received positively by several different nurses globally. This raises questions of ethical codes of conduct, during the research on reasons why the family presence during resuscitation idea world entirely is that nurses work professionally and offer the best hostility therein. The nursing and medical professionals fraternity seem to work better under supervision (Jabre et al. 2013). It is the rules, policies and regulations that govern the nurses and medical professionals rather than the human dignity of respect, care, empathy, trust, patience and best interest inbuilt characteristics of nurses. As a registered nurse, one must work without or with minimal supervision, be guided by the zeal to bring back life to normalcy in patients, and showing the best interest in the patient’s recovery.
References
Al-Mutair, A et al. (2013). “Family presence during resuscitation: A descriptive study of nurses’ attitudes from two Saudi hospitals.” Nursing in Critical Care, 17(2), 90-98
Apuka, O. (2017). “Quantitative research methods: A synopsis review.” Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 6(10), 40-47
Al-Mutair, A. (2017).Should Family be Allowed During Resuscitation: Resuscitation Aspects. DOI:10.5772/intechopen.70189
Carroll, D. (2014). “The effect of intensive care unit environment on nurse perceptions of family presence during resuscitation and invasive procedures”. Dimens Crit Care Nurs, 33: 34-9
Goertzen, M. (2017). “Introduction to auantitative research and data.” Library Technology Reports, 53(4), 12-18
Jabre, P et al. (2013). “Family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.” The New England Journal of Medicine, 368: 1008-1018
Kianmeher, N et al. (2010). “The attitudes of team members towards family presence during hospital-based CPR: A study based in the Muslim setting of four Iranian teaching hospitals.” Journal of Royal College and Physicians of Edinburgh, 40:4-8
Koberich, S et al. (2010). “Family witnessed resuscitation— Experience and attitudes of German intensive care nurses”. British Association of Critical Care Nurses, 5(15), 241-250
Leah, G. (2018). “Qualitative psychological research.” Forensic Psychology, pp. 130-140
Mohamed, Z et al. (2016). “Needs of family members of critically ill patients in a Critical Care Unit at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre.” Medicine & Health, 11(1), 11-21