Introduction

There is still misunderstanding about the critique process of any research or about
the purpose of it. Research critique is not just a summary of a study but rather a careful
appraisal of its merits and flaws 1. Nurse researchers conduct a critique to plan and
implement a study, whereas nurse educators conduct critique to expand their knowledge
and to develop and refine the educational process 2.

In this paper, I will conduct a critique process for specific research that is related to
my master program of acute care nursing, in order to discuss major strengths and
weaknesses of this research.

Abstract

- The abstract was put in the beginning of the research, and it has a appropriate
length (about 193 words), ant it considered as strength point for this research
since that it is better for any abstract to be 100 -200 words.
- The researchers used the advanced organized method of abstract with specific
headings (Purpose, Method, Results, Conclusion, and Keywords). This method of
abstracting enable the readers of this research to understand the content in more
organized manner, rather than traditional method of abstracting that included the
summary of study in single paragraph.
- The abstract of this study included the purpose in clear and concise manner.
- The abstract of this study doesn’t include hypotheses or research questions. It was
better to researcher to include them.

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- Also, the abstract included the method and design of this study (descriptive
correlational), and the number of sample also was included without mentioning
any clear inclusion or exclusion criteria.
Also the instrument (Kogan’s attitude toward old people scale) which was used is
clearly mentioned in addition to the major statistical analysis used (ANOVA,
Pearson correlation, descriptive statistics).
- Major results of this study were written in the abstract.
- Conclusion was clearly stated at the end of the abstract, in addition to major
implications of researchers.

Title

- The title of this study was:” Jordanian nurse’s attitudes toward older patients in
acute care settings”.
- The title was clearly and concisely stated, but the independent variables are not
mentioned which are socio-demographics and nursing work characteristics. This
can be interpreted as that researchers wants the reader of this research to give
his/her attention to the focus or major problem which is (nurse’s attitudes toward
older patients).
- On the other hand, the population of this study was clearly identified in the title
which is ( older patients in acute care settings).
- The number of words of the title was 10 words , and this is considered as one of
strengths of this title , since that it is better for any title to be 15 word or less.

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 Statement of the problem

- The purpose of this study was: “To identify and describe Jordanian nurse’s
attitudes toward older patients in acute care settings and to examine the effect of
selected socio-demographics and nursing work characteristics on their attitudes.
- The purpose was clear and concise, and all independent variable (socio-demographics,
Nursing work characteristics) and dependent variables (Jordanian nurse’s attitude)
are present.
- Also study population was clearly identified in the statement of purpose as (older
patients in acute care settings).
- The location of statement of purpose in this study was after literature review section,
and this considered as one of weaknesses of this study ,because it better for the
researchers to put statement of purpose at introduction section because that literature
review will be conducted depending on the purpose of study , So statement of the
purpose must precede the literature review section.

- The focus or major problem of this study (nurse’s attitude toward older patients in
acute care setting), It is highly significant to nursing at all aspects, as following:

1) Nursing Practice:
Knowing attitudes of nurse toward older patients has either positive or negative
effective on communication and direct or indirect care. Positive attitudes of nurse
may enhance therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient, as a consequence
the benefits of any nursing interventions implemented will be maximized .On the
other hand, the negative attitudes of nurse toward older patients may lead the nurse
–directly or indirectly- to harm patients either physiologically or psychologically.
2) Nursing Education:
Studying nursing attitudes, either positive or negative attitudes, can help nurse
educators to develop a teaching project or program about geriatric nursing
including therapeutic communication techniques and special aspects of direct care.

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 3) Nursing Administration:
Studying nurse’s attitude toward older patients may help the nurse’s administrators
to develop special policies for how to deal and care of older patients. Also , It assist
nursing administrators to enhance the distribution ratio between nurse and patient,
since that assigning one nurse for one or two older patients is better than assigning
one nurse to large group of patient, and enhance nurse’s attitude toward these older
patients.

Research Questions

- The research questions of this study are:

1) What are Jordanian nurses’ attitudes toward older patients in acute care setting?
2) What are the effects of selected socio-demographics and nursing work
characteristics on nurses’ attitude toward these older patients?
- These research questions were clearly and concisely stated and included all independent
and dependant variables in addition to population of this study.
- Again, the researcher put the research questions after literature review section. It was
better to put them before, because literature review will be conducted depending on
theses questions and must follow them in writing any research.

Variables

- The major variables of this study are:

Independent variables: Socio- demographics and nursing work characteristics.
Dependent variables: Nurses’ attitudes toward older patients in acute care settings.
- The variables were concisely and clearly identified in the title and statement of purpose.
But the independent variable (nurse attitudes) was not conceptually defined in the
literature review , it was better to define it conceptually to enable the readers of this
research to know what is definition of nursing attitudes established for this study.

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 Conceptual and theoretical framework

- There are no specific conceptual or theoretical frameworks were used in this study.
- Absence of any conceptual or theoretical models is considered as on of major weaknesses
of this study. There are many theories or models that may describe nurses’ attitude
toward older patients such as congruity theory which developed by Osgood and
Tannenbaum and deals with attitude evaluation and interrelationships.
Also it was better if the researchers to integrate specific nursing theories such as
Humanistic Nursing Communication Theory, which focus on interpersonal
communication between Nurses and clients, Peer and colleagues.
Literature Review

- The major concept of this study which is (Nurses’ attitudes) was not conceptually or
operationally defined in the literature review section, and this is considered as one of
major weaknesses of this research.
- The researchers in the literature review included many of previous studies that strongly
associated with the purpose and research questions of this study and describe the
relationship between independent and dependent variables . But most of these studies are
somewhat old studies( some studies appeared in literature review were published about
more than 10 years before conducting this study such as (taylor& Hamed 1978, Slvien
1991, Ady etal 1991, Treharne 1990, Seymour 1991, Glaaspole & Aman 1990).
It was best to review more recent (up –to –date) studies rather than old studies.
- The reference listed were for the most part from primary sources, not from secondary
sources. And this considered as one of major strengths of this study.

- The researchers doesn’t critique each reviewed study include strengths, weakness,
limitations of the design; conflicts; essential components of the design like size
and type of sample, instruments its validity and reliability.
The researcher only mentioned the significant results of each study in literature
review without describing the studies in more details.
- No relevant models or theories were discussed in the literature review.

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 Ethical consideration and issues of study

- The researchers stated that this study is approved by Jordan University of Science and
Technology research and ethics committee. And this is considered as one of major strengths of
this study because the researchers are ensured that research plans are ethically acceptable.
- Informed consents were obtained from all participants of this study. And this ensures
that all participants have the right of self-determination and ensures that all participants have
adequate information about study and they are voluntary to participate.
- The researchers stated that any personal data collected to the primary researcher would
be destroyed after study completed. This ensures the right of privacy for participants.
- The researchers told the participants that their responses will be confidential. This
means that information collected from participants will not be publically reported or accessed
by parties not involved in the research, and this ensures the right of privacy for participants.

Methodology

Type and Design of the study

- The design of this study is quantitative descriptive correlational study, and I think that
this design is appropriate because the study focus on describing the relationships between two
or more variables, without seeking to establish causal connections.
- Also we can say that this study is considered as non-experimental study since that no
manipulation or intervention introduced to the participants.
- The researchers didn’t clearly mentioned any techniques to control external factors, for
example attitudes of nurses may be affected by the environmental factors of the hospitals or by
relationships with physicians , and this may affect the accuracy of correlation that may results
in this study. And these external variables are controlled usually by constancy of conditions.

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- Since those researchers didn’t use randomization in choosing participants, the threat of
selection bias will be clear and maximized, and also the representiveness of population will be
not appropriate, and this will affect the external validity of this study.

Setting

- The setting of this study was “three major public hospitals located in northern area of
Jordan “.
- The setting is appropriate for this study, but it was better for the researchers to extend the
setting to the home of patients, because there are many older patients who are cared by
private nurses at their houses, it is very important to include these nurses in this study.
- The researcher didn’t describe the settings where the study was done. But it was better to
describe these setting (hospitals) in more details including , the capacity of acute care
departments, number of nurses at acute care units, and percentage of older patients in these
hospitals.

Population and sample

- The population of this study was all nurse working in the medical and surgical units of the
previously mentioned hospitals ( three major hospitals in northern area of Jordan).
- The final sample of this study was 143 nurses.
- The researchers didn’t mention if power analysis was conducted or not to determine sample
size.
- The method of sampling for this research was not mentioned in this study, but the
researchers reported that they selected the sample from a list of all nurses working in
selected units provided by head of nursing departments of each hospital
- I think that sampling method which was used for this study is convenience sampling, which
considered as weakest method for sampling and increase the probability of selection bias in
this study.

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 It was better for the researchers to use probability sampling method to control threat of
selection bias.
- No inclusion criteria clearly identified by the researchers in this study. It is considered as
one of weaknesses of this study.
- Also, No exclusion criteria clearly identified by the researchers.
- Some of key characteristics of the sample were described such as gender, age, marital
status, income, years of experience and educational qualifications.

Discussion

- The researchers interpreted all results of this study in comprehensible and clear
manner, including the interpretation the correlation of each independent variable with
dependent variables.
- The researchers discussed the major findings of this study and compared them with
previous researches and studies, with exploring studies that support or doesn’t support
the findings of this study.
- The researchers stated that generalizability of this study can be enhanced through
increase in sample and including nurses of our sectors.
- The researchers mentioned the major limitations of this study including :
1) The instrument which used (Kogan’s scale) may be inappropriate with Jordanian
culture.
2) The sample was relatively small and didn’t include nurse from military and private
sectors.
- The implications of this study were also mentioned, including:
1) Nursing education: basic gerontological nursing should be incorporate din both
undergraduate and graduate programs.
2) Continuous education in clinical settings especially for nurses who are young or
with low experience.
- The researchers didn’t include any implications in terms of nursing administration.

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- The researchers recommended that there is need for further researches and studies to
with larger sample to improve generalizability of findings. Also, the researchers recommended
the need for further exploration of gender issues and unit type in relation to the nurse’s attitude
toward older patients.

References

1) Pilot D., Beck C., Essentials of nursing research:method, appraisal, and utilaization.6th
ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.
2) Burns N., Grove S., The practice of nursing research: conduct,critique,utiliazation.5th
ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004.

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