Chronic kidney disease is one of the diseases that have been considered as the leading cause of deaths in the United States. The Healthy People 2020 program singled this disease as one that should be fought and eliminated by the year 2020. The research done by Henry Ford Health System (2011) tries to dissect some of the possible causes of Chronic kidney disease among the Americans, and why it has remained one of the leading cause of health concern in this country. Chronic kidney disease has been one of the leading causes of deaths in the United States among the aging population. Although there is effort put in place by various authorities in this country, this war is yet to be won. It is upon this basis that this organization decided to conduct this research. The lead question used in this research was as follows.
What are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease, and how can it be fought successfully in the United States?
This research has been done in a very diligent manner, and it adds new knowledge into this field. A research can only be considered as useful if it has a positive impact in the particular field of concern (Fielding, 2009). The targeted people are the current generation that will live to see the vision 2020 period as well as the future generations. The study can be of great importance in identifying the current health status of the Americans, all the health indicators and the major issues emanating from chronic kidney disease. This information is vital as it helps in drawing the strategies that can effectively be applied to achieve the Healthy People 2020 policy. The researchers in this study were keen on developing a research question that would bring on board as many stakeholders as possible. For example, the research question may be used to determine the role of the private sector in partnership with the health department as that of creating awareness on health related issues to the public and providing any health related information for public access. By so doing, the public will be in a position to act responsibly in promoting the strategies for a Healthy People 2020.
This study question is interrogative in nature. This is because it tries to interrogate some of the possible causes of chronic kidney disease and how it can be managed. The research question tries to investigate the current health state of the people of America and addresses health concerns to lay the foundation for building Healthy People 2020. Through the study question, it is possible to describe a concrete outline of the features of a healthy person desired by the year 2020. Through this, research investigations on the health status can be done to get the factual and quality statistical data for health examination. This helps in assessment of peoples’ health, especially the fight against chronic kidney disease. This research also looks at some of the common ways of fighting this disease. The findings of this research can help in choosing the health priority areas that needs attention, identify the health opportunities for awareness creation and health determinants, provide goals and objectives at both local and state levels, and engage all the sectors in providing their health related knowledge to make relevant policies and participate in health data collection and evaluation of the overall outcome. The study is also descriptive in the sense that it provokes a systematic discussion of the health-concerned bodies in identifying the implication of each form of action taken to achieve the program for both the present and future generations. This concept is essential for sustainable and equitable health benefits to all.
According to Peralta and Ronit (2011), a good research design should be in a position to identify the purpose of the research and the processes to take place at every stage. The design should also be able to determine a research paradigm that gives the guidelines of how the research would be done. Tuyoina (2008) argues that for any satisfying research design, the methodology should be clearly drawn. The research problem should be well stated as it defines how the whole study will be conducted. This study done by the Henry Ford Health System applied the appropriate study design. The study has a clearly stated its purpose. The aim of the study is a realization of a nation that is healthy, free from chronic kidney disease. As discussed above, this is one of the main elements of a well-designed research study. The undertakings at every stage of the study process are also outlined. Another important element that shows that the study design applied in this design is appropriate for this study is the well-stated research problem. The research problem is focused on identifying the possible causes of chronic kidney heart disease. The methodology is very clear on how the study would be conducted. All these elements are indicators that the study design applied in this study is appropriate.
When carrying out a research, so many incidences of bias may occur and need to be addressed to produce a quality research. These biases may emanate from a personal perspective of the researcher or from the study method applied in the research. In this study, the researcher has addressed all the possible sources of bias. In the research method, the researcher has applied stratified sampling in the interviewing process to get quality data. In some other occasions, the researcher would also select a group randomly for interview. This has greatly helped in fighting possible incidences of bias. From the research method, it is very clear that the researcher has involved all the stakeholders and offers them an opportunity to give out their views and contributions to the research. This helps in eliminating participation bias. Another source of bias that has been addressed by the research method used by the researcher is the personal bias. The research method discouraged a situation where the researcher applies personal judgments on the research problem to arrive at the findings.
This study was addressed according to the original protocol. This research was focused on finding the possible causes of chronic kidney disease, and how this can be countered. This is in line with the Healthy People 2020 program. This is what the research has addressed in details, giving guidelines as to the best approaches that should be taken to realize this vision. The study has been conducted in close connection with the vision of the government of the United States when developing Healthy People 2020 program.
In this study, the researchers developed research hypothesis below.
Chronic kidney disease can be fought through healthy lifestyle
The hypothesis was focused on how best chronic kidney disease can be fought. The researcher has developed a number of questions in line with this hypothesis regarding the American people living in a society that is free from common diseases. For instance, the researcher poses a question on the stakeholders who will be responsible in making this vision a success (Jiene, 2011). This research hypothesis tries to explain how various members of the society can work together to achieve the aim of having a society free from chronic kidney disease. It is the responsibility of every American citizen to make this a realization according to this research.
The data provided in this research justify the conclusion. It is clear that it is possible to fight chronic kidney disease in this country. The data provided shows that there is a concerted effort from the government and the public in general to eliminate this health complication that has remained one of the leading health concerns nationally. This research shows that although not openly displayed, there are some conflicts of interest. A section of the society believes that the resources channeled in the fight against chronic kidney disease should be used in other areas. According to this research, the move by the government to introduce the Healthcare Bill 2010, also known as the Obama care increased this conflict. Most of the medical researchers prefer the use of cohort or case studies in order to give a detailed analysis of the research question. A case study is always appropriate when the researcher has a specific population that is small enough to fit in the research.
References
Fielding, J. (2009). Healthy People 2020: Improving Our Health Futures. Public Health Institute Web Forum, 10(2), 1-34.
Jiene, K. (2011). Healthy People 2020: A Society Free From Disease. Journal of Health, 13(5), 1-68.
Peralta, A., & Ronit, K. (2011). Racial and Ethnic Differences in Kidney Function Decline among Persons without Chronic Kidney Disease. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 22(7), 1327-1334.
Tuyoina, U. (2008). Diagnosis and management of chronic heart disease: a national clinical guideline. US Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, 9(6), 61-117.