Description of The Purpose
Congestive or chronic heart failure (CHF) is a widespread issue among a number of groups, but it is especially prominent among older populations. Although there are an array of quantitative studies regarding the given problem, one might not find plentiful data on the qualitative aspect of the matter. Breathlessness is among the most common elements of CHF, which affects almost all individuals suffering from the issue. Therefore, the purpose of the article is providing an in-depth understanding of how breathlessness affects the selected group and what measures they are undertaking in order to limit its impact.
Explanation of Research Design
The research revolves around the extensive assessments of the people with CHF, which means that it has a descriptive qualitative design.
Discussion of Sample
The sample is composed of 25 people with reduced ejection fraction of heart failure. The participants were old with the mean age approximately equal to 77 years-old (Walthall et al., 2017).
Description of Data Collection Methods
The data collection method was based on the semi-structured interview format, where a more specific version of open-ended questions was asked. It was done in order to preserve the focus of the analysis on the factor of breathlessness itself.
Summary of Findings
The breathlessness was one of the most daily life limiting factors among all participants. It had some strong ramifications in four distinct areas, which were identified as emotional aspect, daily life hindrance, breathlessness management, and the nature of the issue.
Strengths of The Study
The key strength of the study is the fact that it directly and precisely focuses on the problem of breathlessness. The given specificity allows the researcher to conduct an in-depth analysis of the topic, which is critical for a qualitative assessment. In addition, one might argue that the sample size is fairly large for the provided research design.
Limitations of The Study
The main limitation of the study is the notion of participants, where only people with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction were studied. The research should also include individuals with CHF with preserved ejection fraction in order to observe their struggles with breathlessness and compare the results of two groups.
Recommendations Regarding Potential Applications for Future Practice That Are Insightful and Appropriate
The article allows nurses and other medical specialists to gain a more in-depth understanding of breathlessness among people with CHF. The knowledge can be applied in both treatment and care provision, where older individuals with the disease can acquire proper accommodations. In addition, one will be able to integrate the specified breathlessness management technique into nursing and clinical practice, such as sleep positioning and breathing exercises.
Reference
Walthall, H., Jenkinson, C., & Boulton, M. (2017). Living with breathlessness in chronic heart failure: A qualitative study. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(13-14), 2036-2044.