Implementation Plan for Evidence-based Research Project – Health Literacy Assessment Tool
The success of the implementation phase of the evidence-based project will rely on the reliability and validity of the research backing the project. Reliability and validity are concepts used to evaluate the quality of research. They indicate how well a method, technique or test measures a phenomenon. Reliability is about the consistency of a measure. On the other hand, validity is about the accuracy of a measure. While reliability and validity are closely related, they differ in several ways. A measurement can be reliable without being valid. However, if a measurement is valid, it is usually also reliable (Middleton, 2016).
It is important to consider reliability and validity when creating a research design, planning the methods, and writing up the results, especially in quantitative research. My research project seeks to push for positive changes among the target population by educating them on the known risk factors and on prevention measures such as losing weight, routine physical exercise, and the right choice of diet. To this end, a key requirement is an instrument that evaluates health literacy related to adherence to self-care among those who are predisposed to developing diabetes or are already diabetic.
Health literacy is defined as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions (Bailey et al, 2014). An assessment of the health literacy of the target population is required to create an effective positive change. The target population is mainly people in low-income urban areas where there is a disproportionate high concentration of minority groups and in rural areas. In these areas, the project expects to target middle-aged African-American women struggling with diabetes risks. With section of the population, no approval forms will be required because participation in the project is voluntary. Access to potential subjects will be through the media, social gatherings, and community events.
The project has both short and long-term expectations. A period of 10 years will be sufficient through which the project will be evaluated. The choice of the timeline is to ensure observations over a period sufficient to formulate patterns, trends, and projections. Ultimately, the project seeks to reduce the number diabetes-related clinic visits by the diabetic from the target population. Through this period for instance, the health literacy of the target group will be observed and expected to increase significantly if not drastically (See item 1 in Appendix 1 for timelines).
As mentioned in the previous paper, the project will face the same obstacles that cause complexity in the public health system. The success of the project will therefore depend on collaboration among government intuitions, private organizations, health care professionals, and the community. The project will rely on nurses, community health workers, and day-care providers. Finances will be required for awareness purposes as well compensation for outsourced services. These resources will be key in providing information to the target population, evaluating the impact of the information, and integrating findings with the impact of the project on wellness and healthy being.
Over this period, data will be collected through different methods including observation, interviews, and questionnaires. The project will rely on open-ended questionnaires (see item 2 in Appendix 1) that will provide both qualitative and quantitative data. Thus, the mixed method of data collection will be key to the reliability and validity of the project. Proposed interventions will be provided by respective health professionals including community health workers either through physical visits or through telehealth and telemedicine technologies.
Furthermore, the project expects to collect as much data and information as possible. Therefore, it will maintain a database where all the data will be refined, processed, analysed, and accessed by stakeholders. The IT section of the project will be tasked with data security and dissemination of information. The data will be integrated with past and on-going research findings to develop projections that will assist in planning project expansion and possible application in foreign settings.
The reliability and validity of the research project may however be hampered by several barriers. For instance, miscommunication between or among the collaborating parties my lead to distrust by the delicate target group. Strict and clear channels of communication and engagement will be established to ensure that stakeholders are on the same page. Thus, the feasibility of the project depends on the level of collaboration among the stakeholders.
References
Bailey, S. C., Brega, A. G., Crutchfield, T. M., Elasy, T., Herr, H., Kaphingst, K., . . . Schillinger, D. (2014). Update on health literacy and diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4174500/
Middleton, F. (2016). Reliability vs Validity in Research: Differences, Types and Examples. Retrieved from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/reliability-vs-validity/