Confidence in Findings of the Report
The investigators in this study are qualified and highly reputable as far as matters related to healthcare are concerned. This is attributable to the fact that all of the four authors have healthcare knowledge from reputable institutions in Canada such as Northern Ontario School of Medicine, School of Nutrition, Ryerson University, University of Health Network Diabetes Education Center, Toronto, and the University of Guelph for the case of Mathew, Gucciardi, De Melo and Barata, respectively as provided towards the end of the article. This article is published in a referred journal, the BMC Family Practice.
Statement of the Problem
The phenomenon of interest is clearly identified with the researcher providing rationale for the choice of the qualitative approach in this study. According to Mathew et al. (2012), such an approach was based on the fact that studies in this area are limited and thus, there is a need to provide an explanation of the self-management experiences of diabetes from a wide view. In addition, the philosophical underpinnings of the research are described.
Purpose
The authors of this article make the aim of conducting the research explicit by highlighting that the purpose was to gain understanding of the various differences, challenges, and specific needs for men and women who have Type 2 Diabetes with regard to the self-management of diabetes (Mathew et al., 2012). The researchers describe the projected significance of the work to nurses by citing that the findings from this research can be used to inform gender-sensitive diabetes, support, counselling, as well as care.
Design
The researchers align the study design used to collect data with the purpose of the research. The qualitative research approach for this study is appropriate as far as addressing the phenomenon of interest is concerned.
Sampling
The researcher describes the process of selecting the study participants. The study used the mixed methods sampling approach with the emphasis on interviews and focus groups. Such an approach was appropriate for this study given that the interest of the researchers was to ensure that they have a sample comprising of wide variations in terms of culture. As such, the mixed methods sampling technique ensured that the study got a significantly representative sample by focusing on individuals who attended the focus group, as well as interviewing others who did not make for the focus group (Mathew et al., 2012). With such a wide target for the sample group, the sampling technique can be considered to have been beneficial for this study. In addition, the choice of the sampling strategy was important for the study in that the right informants were chosen for the research with regard to their experiences in self-managing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Data Collection
The data collection process of this study focuses on human experience since primarily the study hopes to identify the various experiences that men and women with TD2M have as far as self-management of the illness is concerned. This can be inferred from the researchers’ description of the data collection strategies including interviews and focus groups.
The researchers were very keen to address the problem of the protection of human subjects. As evident from the article, the study protected the human subjects by ensuring that their responses were kept anonymous. This was achieved by removing the personal information of the participants from the responses and adopting objective identifiers instead.
In spite of the suitable approaches used in the preparation of the study participants as well as in the collection of the required data for the study, the researchers do not provide any clear information to explain the idea of data saturation for this study, and how such issue was addressed.
The researchers provide an explicit procedures used in the collection of the required data for the study. As evident from the article, the study describes how research participants were invited to take part in the study with the main focus on the investigation of the self-management experiences among the men and women with Type 2 Diabetes.
Data Analysis
The researchers provide a clear description of the methods of analyzing data that they used such as the thematic approach to examine the salient topics emerging from the interviews and focus groups. The use of the thematic strategy of analyzing data helped the researchers to remain true to the data as well as provide a platform for which readers could relate with hence, enhancing their understanding of the procedures used to analyze data for the study.
According to the data analysis approach, one is able to understand the credibility and fitness of the data. For example, the choice of a wide data sample and the thematic approach to data analysis helps the researchers to address the credibility and fittingness of the data. In addition, the authors enhance credibility and trustworthiness by documenting all the necessary data clearly and allowing the study participants the chance to recognize the experience as their own. On the other hand, the researchers document the study process comprehensively making it possible for readers to follow every aspect of the research such as identifying the target population, study design suitable for the study, data collection and analysis, as well as the presentation of findings, discussion, and conclusion.
Data Analysis Continued
The study uses a sample population that comprises of culturally diverse individuals from Canada. For this reason, the findings of the study cannot be used to explain similar conditions especially in a case involving a more culturally homogeneous population. However, the results from this study are significantly important and meaningful for individuals not involved in the research. This is attributable to the fact that the study uses a wide sample population to take care of all individuals participating in the study as well as others outside.
It is evident that the strategy used for the analysis is compatible with the purpose of the study since it focuses on the examination of the necessary factors and themes with regard to the experiences of diabetic men and women.
On the other hand, the findings of the study are presented within context making it possible for the reader to apprehend the essence of the experience for the report of the findings. Such a scenario is possible since it is evident that the researchers’ conceptualizations are true to the data, while at the same time they base their analysis of collected data on various themes making it possible for the readers to understand the findings.
Conclusions, Implications, and Recommendations
The article has conclusions, implications, and recommendations that highlight the context of the findings. For example, based on the conclusion, readers are able to understand some of the complex factors associated with differences in gender as far as self-management of diabetes are concerned. Evidently, the conclusions are a clear reflection of the study’s findings. In addition, the researchers also offer recommendations for future study especially with respect to specificity of data required in similar studies. As such, from the conclusion, readers are in a position to identify the significance of this study to nursing.
From the above critical analysis of the qualitative study on the subject of self-management experiences among men and women with Type 2 Diabetes, it is evident that the researchers focus on successfully addressing every aspect of the research process in a bid to ensure credibility and validity of the final results. According to the study’s findings, it is evident that the intented objective of the study was achieved.
References
Mathew, R., Gucciardi, E., De Melo, M., & Barata, P. (2012). Self-management experiences among men and women with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A qualitative analysis. BMC Family Practice, 2012(13), 1-12