Introduction
Burns and Grove (2011), define qualitative research is a standardized, personal way used to define life experiences and grant them meaning. A qualitative study must establish a dilemma or research problem, does not contain a hypotheses, and the research questions, which evolve as the study progresses are usually very broad. As a result, the person conducting the study looks for data to form impressions; this type of research cannot be measured. This qualitative research critique will analyze the problem statement, purpose and research questions, literature review and conceptual framework of Qualitative Study on the Impact of Falling in Frail Older Persons and Family Caregivers: Foundations …show more content…
In 2010, approximately two million nonfatal fall injuries in older adults were cared for in emergency departments with costs totally approximately $30 billion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Injuries sustained from falls include fractures (hip, spine, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, hand), lacerations, and head traumas. Often times after a fall, an individual will become disabled, lose their independence, or develop a fear of falling again causing them to decrease their activity level. Decreased activity level results in decreased mobility and muscle mass, loss of being physically fit, and actually increases an elderly person 's chances of falling. In addition to the physical injuries from falls, patients also suffer emotionally and socially, as do their caregivers from increased dependence on …show more content…
Three patients were cognitively unimpaired, four had mild cognitive impairments and the remaining three were dementia patients. All patients had experienced a recent fall and both them and their caregivers were used as the authors’ frame of reference. After the study, a framework was developed from the study findings that consisted of two tables that presented the socio-demographic and health characteristics of patients and the socio-demographic and health characteristics of caregivers and their care recipients. Interview responses were also categorized into the following categories: emotions, social consequences, attributions, coping, burden and rewards of care giving, and fall prevention program. This framework was used by the authors to determine the need for a fall prevention