The choice of the variables to be tested in the study along with the method for establishing the relationship between them have a significant impact upon the study outcomes and the value of the research for the evidence-based practice. This paper will discuss the variables chosen for the studies by Koch (2002) and Sellers et al (2009), the method for testing them and their social and theoretical significance for the current nursing practices.
Koch (2002) studied the impact of health beliefs upon the benefits received by aging African-American women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes from exercises and analyzed the correlation between health beliefs in exercisers and non-exercisers. The t test was used for evaluating the first hypothesis concerning the influence of the health beliefs upon the treatment outcomes. The variables of health beliefs, including the perceived benefits, barriers, possible complications and seriousness of the diabetic processes in general were evaluated with regards to the exercise adherence in participants, and statistically significant difference was identified between the perceived barriers and the corresponding benefits of exercises. The demographic variables can be defined as latent, whereas their impact upon the dependent variables was neglected. The t test did not identify statistically significant difference between the perceived seriousness of diabetic processes in exercisers and non-exercisers. In general, the t test was appropriate for the study scope and design because it was possible to assume that the variances were equal (Polit & Beck, 2004, p. 502).
In the study by Sellers et al (2009) the t test was used for supporting the hypothesis that the levels of horizontal violence will be higher in union facilities where nurses are more frequently expected to the work of others. The independent variables of the availability of official policies within the facility were tested against their enforcement and the occurrences of violence, namely the demands of doing the work of other, the practices of reprimands in front of others and the lack of acknowledgement for the performance. There was a statistically significant difference between the reported victimization occurrences in the union and non-union facilities. The chosen method was effective for testing the hypothesis and establishing the links between the independent and dependent variables.
The main parameters for evaluating the importance of these studies for the current nursing practices include their social and theoretical significance. Thus, a research can be regarded as socially significant if it addresses a topic which is of practical value for the community and theoretically significant in case if it provides new insights regarding the discussed problems which were not explored in the previous researches (Fawcett & Garity 2009). Estimating the social significance of the study by Koch (2002), it can be stated that the findings of this research are valuable and can be implemented for improving the quality of the educational programs for ageing women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Regarding the practical value of the second study by Sellers et al (2009), it should be noted that the established link between the official policies on horizontal violence and the reported occurrences of victimization outlines the further directions for the necessary organizational changes within the hospital facilities. As to the theoretical significance of the studies under consideration, it can be stated that the value of the study by Koch (2002) is higher because it provides insight into the issues which lacked research previously. As to the theoretical significance of the research by Sellers et al (2009), the scholars themselves recognized that the topic is not specific for the nursing facilities and had been previously investigated by the specialists from other spheres.
In general, it can be concluded that the choice of variables and the t test were appropriate for the studies conducted by Koch (2002) and Sellers et al (2009). The findings of the researches are socially significant, whereas the theoretical value is higher in Koch (2002).
Reference List
Fawcett, J., & Garity, J. (2009). Evaluating research for evidence-based nursing practice. Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis.
Koch, J. (2002). The role of exercise in the African-American woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Application o the health belief model. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 14(3): 126-129.
Polit, D. & Beck, C.T. (2004). Nursing research: Principles and methods. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Sellers, K., Millenbach, L. et al (2009). The prevalence of horizontal violence in New York State Registered Nurses. Journal of the New York State Nurses Association, 40(2): 20-25.