A research problem statement identifies an area of need in which there is a gap in knowledge or practice and interest by a nurse researcher. Either from a hypothetical or real-world experience, nursing research problem statements help to focus the research purpose and guide the study of the problem.
In this discussion, you will identify a nursing problem to analyze the potential impact for positive change and explore tools used to examine it in the selected research.
Sample Answer
Hypothetical Nursing Problem:
Problem Statement: “In hospitalized elderly patients (65+ years) with a history of falls, there is a lack of standardized, individualized fall prevention protocols implemented at the point of care transition from inpatient to home settings, leading to increased rates of falls and fall-related injuries within 30 days of discharge.”
Analysis of Potential Impact for Positive Change:
- Reduced Fall Rates: Implementing standardized, individualized fall prevention protocols could significantly decrease the number of falls and fall-related injuries in elderly patients post-discharge. This would improve patient safety and quality of life.
- Decreased Hospital Readmissions: Falls often lead to injuries that require hospitalization. By reducing falls, we can potentially decrease hospital readmission rates, which benefits both patients and healthcare systems by lowering costs.
- Improved Patient Confidence and Independence: Patients who feel confident in their ability to avoid falls are more likely to engage in activities of daily living, leading to improved independence and overall well-being.
- Enhanced Interprofessional Collaboration: Developing and implementing effective fall prevention protocols requires collaboration between nurses, physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and social workers, fostering a more integrated approach to patient care.
Full Answer Section
- Data-Driven Practice: Research on fall prevention protocols can generate valuable data that can be used to inform best practices and improve the quality of care for elderly patients.
- Improved quality of life: A fall can have devestating effects on a persons quality of life, both physically, and mentally. Reducing falls, increases the quality of life of this population.
Tools Used to Examine the Problem:
To investigate this research problem, a nurse researcher could employ a variety of tools and methods:
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Quantitative Research:
- Retrospective Chart Review: Analyze hospital records to identify fall rates and related injuries in elderly patients post-discharge, comparing outcomes before and after the implementation of standardized protocols.
- Prospective Cohort Study: Follow a group of elderly patients from hospital discharge to 30 days post-discharge, collecting data on fall occurrences, injury severity, and adherence to fall prevention protocols.
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT): Randomly assign elderly patients to either a control group (standard discharge instructions) or an intervention group (standardized, individualized fall prevention protocols) and compare fall rates and related outcomes.
- Standardized Assessment Tools: Use validated tools, such as the Morse Fall Scale, the Tinetti Assessment Tool, and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, to assess fall risk, balance, and mobility.
- Statistical Analysis: Use statistical methods, such as t-tests, chi-square tests, and regression analysis, to analyze quantitative data and determine the effectiveness of the intervention.
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Qualitative Research:
- Semi-Structured Interviews: Conduct interviews with elderly patients and their caregivers to explore their experiences with falls, their perceptions of fall risk, and their adherence to fall prevention strategies.
- Focus Groups: Facilitate focus group discussions with healthcare providers to explore their perspectives on fall prevention protocols and the challenges of implementing them.
- Thematic Analysis: Analyze qualitative data to identify recurring themes and patterns related to fall prevention and patient experiences.
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Mixed-Methods Research:
- Combine quantitative and qualitative methods to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem. For example, use an RCT to assess the effectiveness of fall prevention protocols and conduct qualitative interviews to explore patient experiences and perceptions.
- This would provide a more in depth look into the issue.
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Electronic Health Record (EHR) Data:
- Extract and analyze data from EHRs to identify trends in fall rates, risk factors, and related outcomes.
- This allows for analysis of large data sets.
By using a combination of these tools and methods, nurse researchers can effectively examine the research problem and generate evidence-based recommendations for improving fall prevention practices in elderly patients.
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