Self-Efficacy and Blood Pressure Self-Care Behaviors in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis Critique

The purpose of the study has been clearly and broadly stated, giving the reader a full detail of what the research study is about (Connell, 1999). The problem in this research study is itself broad where it covers a number of aspects (Wood, Ross-Kerr & Brink, 2006); i. e. determination of whether educative self-regulation intervention would improve blood pressure (BP) self-efficacy in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD), and whether BP self-efficacy is associated with improved BP self-care outcomes (Kauric-Klein, Peters & Yarandi, 2017). This is a broad purpose that has several dimensions and therefore requires extensive research. This research study uses the statistical software package G power to determine the sample size (Kauric-Klein et al. This software is efficient because it mainly considers the effects of sample size on the results of the study.

Using G-power basically allows high precision power and sample size analysis. Additionally, two groups of subjects are used in the study. In this study, a sample of 118 participants was used. Major demographic information which (Kauric-Klein et al. (2017) describe as various patient data that could have influenced BP self-efficacy and ability to adhere to recommended BP self-care behaviors (p. 892) was collected from the medical records and verified by the participants (Kauric-Klein et al. Variables that were considered include: age, race, marital status, gender, education and income as well as co-morbidities (Kauric-Klein et al. By collecting this information, the researchers were able to make sampling choices based on the data they had collected. One of the strengths identified in using this kind of research design is that it is the most suitable method for drawing conclusions with regard to effectiveness of interventions due to its emphasis in control of variable (Carnel, 1997).

However, an important factor to consider about this type of research design(experimental) is that situations are very controlled and therefore hard to represent real life situations. Moreover, human error plays an important role in the validity of the study (Parahoo, 2006). RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS/DATA COLLECTION Research instruments used for the study were education sessions and questionnaires (Kauric-Klein et al. Educative session was conducted by the principle investigator (PI) which provided the patients with information on the risk factors of BP in HD and how they can control it. some of these includes past accomplishments, and emotional arousal related to personal task performance. Additionally, the participants learnt how to monitor their BP by observing how others were doing it. (Kauric-Klein et al.

Questionnaire were used to collect data where they were administered at baseline and at 12 weeks. Study and data collection were completed within 13 months (Kauric-Klein et al. Additionally, correlational analysis was conducted between BP self-efficacy and bop self-care outcomes as well as BP. significance value was set to equal to or less than 0. SPSS was the statistical tool for analysis. All of the above instruments of data analysis were able to measure all the t=concepts under study, i. e. e. autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence and justice. In the research study under review, the ethical considerations were observed. Before conducting the research, the study was first reviewed by the institutional Review board of a U. S. This means that the participants might have felt the need to provide answers that they thought the PI wanted to hear consequently affecting the reliability of the collected data and research validity (Kauric-Klein et al.

Any research study should be able to bear both internal validity and external validity (Wood et al. Internal validity is concerned with results findings within the study, while external validity is concerned determines to what extent the study can be used to represent the general population (Miles & Huberman, 1994). The study conducted by Kauric-Klein et al. (2017), has both elements. S general population with HD, which in reality has 35% of African Americans (USRDS, 2015). Additionally, the pretests conducted, i. e. could have led to more sensitivity from the participants hence influencing treatment response. RELEVANCE OF THE RESEARCH IN NURSING PRACTICE The study’s conclusion indicate that intervention cannot improve BP-self efficacy. The Practice of Nursing Research: Conduct, Critique and Utilization (3rd ed. WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia.