The title of the article “Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV” by Madi et al. is clear because it gives the reader an idea of the research content and pinpoints the key variables and the sample population. In this case, the variable is Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) compliance, while the population sample is persons living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The abstract provides a concise summary of the background of the research, aims, methodology, results, and conclusions to help the audience understand the without reading the entire report.
The problem statement is straightforward and indicates the study’s aim to determine the adherence levels and the factors affecting ART compliance at a healthcare facility in Southern India. The research problem is significant for nursing because healthcare professionals provide critical patient education that promotes ART compliance among persons living with HIV. The problem statement is persuasive because it seeks to identify the degree of ART compliance and what may hinder ART adherence among HIV patients in India. A quantitative approach is suitable for this research problem because the measurements of ART compliance can only be analyzed statistically.
The lack of hypothesis or research questions is justifiable because the study is descriptive, and a reader can easily understand the research process without a hypothesis. Additionally, the absence of a literature review segment makes it difficult for the audience to understand existing studies and connect them to this report. The lack of a theoretical framework is unjustifiable because it hinders the readers from connecting the research variables and finding the study’s basis.
The protection of human rights is guaranteed through approval from the Ethics committee at the Kasturba healthcare facility and obtaining patients’ consent. The investigation utilized a cross-sectional design to gather patient data; nevertheless, the researchers should have used a longitudinal design to increase the credibility. The population sample involved persons living with HIV who had used ART for over a year, which was suitable for the topic. A sample size of 116 individuals was ideal for this quantitative study to generate reliable results. The research used interviews based on semi-structured questionnaires to gather patient information (Madi et al., 2013, p.221). This improved the authenticity of the results because the research was based on primary data collection methods. The authors also provided a formula to calculate the measurements and outlined the procedures used to conduct the study.
The researchers failed to provide a step-by-step process on how they evaluated the data. The analysis shows that the collected information was examined through SPSS version 11.5 and a Chi-square assessment, where the value of P was estimated at < 0.05 (Madi et al., 2013, p. 221). Instead, the researchers should have indicated how the data was edited and coded before being exported to the SPSS and how the Chi-square assessment was completed. The findings are clearly outlined; for example, out of the 116 patients, only 54.3% had 100% adherence while approximately 33% had low ART compliance (Madi et al., 2013, p.222). Increased compliance was associated with self-motivation and free ART, while forgetfulness, depression, social stigma, and financial constraints were linked to reduced adherence.
The research provides a discussion section where authors explain how various aspects, such as depression, financial challenges, stigma, family care, and substance abuse, may reduce ART compliance. They also use other research studies from India to support their findings. These interpretations are compelling because they are based on factors affecting the sample population. There are no recommendations in the report, which would have been critical to guide other researchers who may want to further the study.
The report has a good presentation; it uses paragraphs and subtitles to break the text, making it easier for the audience to follow and understand the content. The study is credible because the authors provide their source of data, sample size, data collection methods, analysis, and how the findings were achieved. The research lacks a summary assessment which would have been vital in reviewing the research process and identifying which areas to improve on when conducting another research.
Reference
Madi, D., Bhaskaran, U., Ramapuram, J., Rao, S., Mahalingam, S., & Achappa, B. (2013). Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV. North American Journal of Medical Sciences, 5(3), 220-223.