Sanford, J., Townsend-Rocchicciolli, J.,horigan, A., & Hall, Article Review

Sanford, J., Townsend-Rocchicciolli, J.,Horigan, A., & Hall, P. (2011). A process of decision making by caregivers of family members with heart failure. Research & Theory for Nursing Practice, 25(1), 55-70.

Describe the population for this study.

participants were recruited from cardiology offices, inpatient hospital units, or adult day care facilities. The participant had to be related to the patient with heart failure (HF), provide one activity of daily living, and/or assist the care recipient with two activities of daily living and do this voluntarily.

How was the sample selected? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this sampling strategy?

This was a convenience sample. The participants were recruited from cardiology offices, inpatient hospital units, or adult day care facilities and had to meet certain conditions. The strengths are that the researchers know and get precisely what they are looking for (in terms of qualifications of participants). The weaknesses are that outcome of study may be simply due to characteristics of these participants and selection of the participants may also reflect bias on the researchers' part... A randomized population would not only avert possible bias of the researchers, but may also have a greater chance of telling whether or not outcome was due to chance.

3) Were the subjects in this study vulnerable? Were there any risks for them as the result of participation in the research study?

There are no risks as far as I can see. The study was a direct-face interview on the decision-making and caring styles of the caregiver.

4) Are there any HIPAA concerns that are evident in this study?

Any possible HIPAA concerns may include caregivers divulging private / confidential information about the attitudes / disease and similar variables of the care recipient. Similarly, the information that the caregivers divulge about their own attitude is also confidential in that care recipients may become offended by this information were it divulged to them and the job of the caregivers may be jeopardized.

5) What methods were put in place to ensure that the subjects were giving true informed consent?

Methods are not given. We are simply told that "informed consent was obtained" (p.59)

6) what was the setting for the study?

Open-ended interviews occurred in private mutually agreed on locations: the caregivers' homes, places of employment, or the library.

7) Was the sample adequate for the research design that was selected?

No. We are dealing with a general, large, and homogeneous population: caregivers of people with HF. To adequately survey the way that they feel and make decisions, we need a correspondingly far larger and more diverse sample.

The following questions pertain to: Schwarz, K., Mion, P., Hudock, D., & Litman, G. (2008). Telemonitoring of heart failure patients and their caregivers: A pilot randomized controlled study. Progress in Cardiovascular Nursing,…