Qualitative Research Critique

Running Head: Research Critique

Communication between Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Nurses about Managing Pain in the Acute Hospital Setting: A Qualitative Study
Daisy Hariharan
Grand Canyon University
NRS-433V
04/11/2013

Introduction
This is a qualitative critic of the research article “Communication between patients with chronic kidney disease and nurses about managing pain in the acute hospital setting” written by Elizabeth Manias and Allison Williams.
Problem statement
One of the main clinical problems that have been highlighted in the study is chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney ailments are strongly linked with pain and there is a strong need to manage this pain (Manias, and Williams, 2007, p. 358). One of the
main interactions of the patients suffering from chronic kidney diseases is with the nurses. Thus the management of this acute pain in these patients becomes the main responsibility of nurses. How nurses communicate with the patients in wake of the pain and what strategies are being adopted by the nurses is a point of concern. This main concern also forms of the aim and foundation of the study. One of the main issues with the nursing management in the medical healthcare setups is the amount of time spent by the nurses with the patients. Lesser time is being given by the nurses to the patients based on which the communication between the patients and the nurses is poor? Pain management could have been better based on more dedication of time to the patients by the nurses (Manias, & Williams, 2007). This defines the main research problem of the study.
These days, the percentage of adults suffering from chronic kidney disease is rising. One in every ten American adult is suffering from chronic kidney disease. The complexity of the acute pain in chronic kidney disease is higher, based on which there is a need that the nurses manage the pain and the complexities of the pain. The authors have tried to establish the significance of the study by highlighting a need for an increased communication between nurses and chronic kidney patients (Manias, & Williams, 2008).
Purpose and research questions
The main aim of the paper as mentioned by the authors is to examine and highlight the communication between patients suffering from chronic kidney disease and nurses for effective manage of pain in acute hospital setting (Williams, & Manias, 2008).
The main research questions that have been answered in the study include the following;
1. What is the main element that can be contributed by the nurses in acute hospital settings for proper management of pain in chronic kidney patients? (Manias & Williams, 2007).
2. Is there a gap in the knowledge of the complexities of pain in chronic kidney patients? (Manias & Williams, 2007).
3. Is there specific process involved in the pain management, of which the nurses should be aware? (Manias & Williams, 2007).
The problem highlighted in the paper is in relation to the main aim and research questions inferred from the text of the study. In order to get answers to the research problem, the main qualitative techniques that were used by the authors included interviews and observations conducted in five adult renal units in victoria in Australia. This is one of the most appropriate approaches to seek answers for the research problem inferred from the text.

Literature
Review
The literature has been cited in the beginning of the study. The main focus of the literature has been on the complexities of the pain in chronic kidney patients. Qualitative literature has been cited, rather quantitative literature. Many references have been included in the study that shows increased relevance to the study. The references are a mix of older and new studies, starting from 1996. In relation to the references, weakness or strengths of the mentioned studies have not been highlighted by the author. Logical arguments have been built by the author with the help of the given information from the cited references.
Theoretical framework
When the study is taken into consideration in detail, it can be seen that no specific theoretical background has been used in the study.
Theoretical background may have helped the authors in building a stronger background for the study. The theoretical foundations could also be helpful in finding gaps in the research and knowledge of the nurses in acute hospital settings based on which currently, pain in chronic kidney patients is poor. The authors have only managed to highlight the main requirements of effective pain management in acute hospital settings that include being aware of the complexities of pain of chronic kidney disease. The study findings have been simply given in a text manner and no framework has been developed with the help of which the findings can be seen in a more comprehensive manner.
Conclusion
The study is important as it highlights the importance of pain management in renal units in acute hospital settings. There is a need that proper communication should take place between the patients of chronic kidney disease and the nurses so the nurses can learn more about the sufferings of these patients and the complexities of the pain. More time is needed to be dedicated by the nurses towards the patients so that pain can be managed
effectively.

References
Manias, E., and Williams, A. (2007). Communication between patients with chronic kidney disease and nurses about managing pain in the acute hospital setting. J Clin Nurs. 16(11C):358-67.
Manias, E., and Williams, A. (2008). Managing pain in chronic kidney disease: patient participation in decision-making. J Adv Nurs. 61(2):201-10.
Williams, A., and Manias, E. (2008). A structured literature review of pain assessment and management of patients with chronic kidney disease. J Clin Nurs. 17(1):69-81.