Topic Chosen
The focus of this discussion is on mental health.
APA Citation and Article Summary
Tirintica, A. R., Andjelkovic, I., Sota, O., Pirlog, M. C., Stoyanova, M., Mihai, A., & Wallace, N. (2018). Factors that influence access to mental health services in South-Eastern Europe. International journal of mental health systems, 12(1), 1-8.
In this article, Trintica et al. (2018) investigated factors that influence access to mental health services. The purpose of the study was to identify the causes of the first psychiatry consult and investigate patients’ perspectives on conditions that influence the reluctance in seeking mental health services and access in general. The results from the study indicated that the average profile of people who sought mental health services was: “married female older than 40 years, with an average economic status and no mental health history.” (Trinica et al., 2018, par. 4) The researchers identified three factors as the main influencers of delay and put the mean delay at three months. Causes of delay identified included stigmas surrounding the issue of mental health, lack of awareness in regards to mental health, and concerns about practices and remedies towards mental health problems.
Study Sample
The sample of this study comprised three different groups: patients, caregivers, and mental health professionals. The data was collected by the use of questionnaires: Two different types of questionnaires were issued to each participant. The first questionnaire collected information on demographics, decision-making processes, and reluctance, specifically for patients. The second questionnaire was comprised of questions aimed to find information on possible factors that influenced delay for the first psychiatric consult. Candidates for the study were required to meet the following conditions: attained the majority age and admitted to any psychiatric facility or accessed services within two years from the date when the study was conducted. In addition, have the ability to read, understand the contents of the questionnaire and respond appropriately. The estimated sample population of participants was 400 subjects, comprising of 100 “new cases.”
Inferential Statistics Used
For this study, the researchers used Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) as a preferred inferential statistical method. The use of ANOVA as an inferential statistics method instills a factor of generalization of findings (Jadcherl et al.,2010). The main reason for this is that the study investigated three sample populations which included patients, caregivers mental health professionals. Apart from that, the subject study is correlational with no dependent and independent variables. The selected inferential method is consistent with the recommendations of clinical research principles. They affirm the viability of ANOVA as a preferred inferential statistical method when dealing with more than three groups of samples (Gray et al., 2017; Shin, 2009; Surbhi, 2017). ANOVA was used to investigate the relationship between different factors (age, level of knowledge, demographics) and the period of the first consultation. The results of the study established that stigma and attitude towards available mental health issues as the most dominant factors influencing delay. However, the researchers noted that ANOVA did not indicate substantial statistical differences between identified factors.
Impact of Inferential Statistics (ANOVA) on the Research Study
The use of ANOVA as an inferential statistical method for this study strengthened its application to evidence-based practice. According to Surbhi (2017), the use of ANOVA reduces inferential errors hence its preference to other methods such as t-test when dealing with more than two sample populations. ANOVA does this research on finding the relationship between different factors and the delay in seeking services for mental health treatment viable and applicable. ANOVA as an inferential statistic method makes it possible for the results of this study to fit for generalization and broad conclusions beyond its immediate components
References
Gray, J.R., Grove, S.K., & Sutherland, S. (2021). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Saunders Elsevier.
Jadcherla, S. R., Wang, M., Vijayapal, A. S., & Leuthner, S. R. (2010). Impact of prematurity and co-morbidities on feeding milestones in neonates: A retrospective study. Journal of Perinatology, 30(3), 201-208.
Tirintica, A. R., Andjelkovic, I., Sota, O., Pirlog, M. C., Stoyanova, M., Mihai, A., & Wallace, N. (2018). Factors that influence access to mental health services in South-Eastern Europe. International Journal of mental Health Systems, 12(1), 1-8.
Shin, J. H. (2009). Application of repeated-measures analysis of variance and hierarchical linear model in nursing research. Nursing Research, 58(3), 211–217.
Surbhi,S. (2017) Differences between t-test and ANOVA. Web.