CRITICAL APPRAISAL CHECKLIST FOR QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

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Considering the aim of the study, the

1. Is the title eye-catching? Is
title and the research topic exhibit
it relevant to the current
salient and relevancy to the present
needs of the society?
needs of society. The title is eye-
Explain
catching because it indicates the
objective of the study. It also
elucidates the psychological and
physical experiences of the nurses
during their duty in Covid-19 areas.
The study’s relevancy is immensely
timely since, until the present, we
are still in the middle of a pandemic.
The study is significant these days to
raise awareness of what nurses' face
during their duty with Covid-19
patients. It is also pertinent for the
government to improve their
shortage and negligence in providing
quality PPE to our nurses and exhibit
 support in giving credits to their
work.

The introduction was presented

2. How was the introduction
briefly and clearly understood by the
presented? What
audience. The information was
elements you think is
specifically mentioned in the study in
imperative that has been
which it focuses on the subject
integrated as part of the
matter of the several aspects of
introduction? Was the
COVID-19, where and how it was
need for the study been
declared. In addition to it, physical
substantiated adequately?
and psychological experiences of
nurses were determined in the
study. As well as, how the nurses
made a huge personal sacrifice, to
deliver care to hospitalized patients,
to help and serve the community.
Furthermore, the topic has been
substantiated adequately.

The element that we think is

imperative that has been integrated
as part of the introduction was
Identifying the Research Problem
The introduction and background of
the study are well-presented; thus,
the researchers made the article
 timely and relevant for the present
and future research studies including
research proposals; most especially
that we were in the middle of a
pandemic. It can be an innovative
idea to improve the study if there
are lapses or additional information
that can be identified by future
researchers.

Variables in qualitative research are

3. Identify the variables
collected within the context of their
under study? Is there any
natural occurrence. The variable in
confounding variables that
this study is the psychological
the researcher controlled?
experiences of nurses working in
Covid-19 care areas which are being
analyzed by the inferences drawn
out from the four stated themes -
knowledge about Covid-19,
experience in covid area/PPE,
physical and psychological stressors,
and coping strategies. Aside from
these, researchers also used socio
demographic characteristics of
subjects that correspond with the
research variable as seen on the
 table. It includes age, sex, marital
status, qualification, total experience
in nursing, experience in AIIMS, co
morbidities, psychiatric illness, and
experience in COVID. There were no
confounding variables the
researchers controlled.

4. Is there congruity between

the stated philosophical
perspective and the □ □ □ □
research methodology?
Explain
The researchers used a descriptive
5. What was the design of
research design for their study, as it
□ □ □ □
the study? Is there
explores and describes the
congruity between the
psychological experiences of nurses
research methodology and
posted in COVID-19 care areas.
the research question or
Fifteen nurses were selected based
objectives? Explain
on certain criteria and convenience
sampling were asked several
questions regarding their
experiences while providing care for
COVID-19 patients. The questions
that were asked contained two
sections, one regarding the
demographic profile of the
respondents, then the other were

6. How were the participants
selected (eligibility
criteria)? Is the number of
participants
representative of the
population they belong to?
Explain
questions for the actual interview
that were devised specifically for the
respondents. Most of the responses
that were gathered contained
physiological experiences rather
than psychological experiences.
As such there is no congruence
between methodology and the
objectives because instead of
tackling the psychological
experiences other matters were
discussed in the study. However,
there are some sections of the
article that contained psychological
experiences of the respondents, but
it lacked emphasis that it could not
be considered sufficient to answer
the research questions.
The participants were chosen or
selected based on the result of their
□ □ □ □
interviews and surveys which will
make them eligible to be part of the
a
study. Like for example a group of
participants who have similar
answers such as their age, gender,
education, profession,
socioeconomic status, health status
 and even personality. Furthermore,
if the sample or data is not randomly
selected, then it will certainly be
biased in some way and the results
will not be representative of the
entire population.

Based on the criteria of research,

7. Is the research ethical
this study was considered ethical
□ □ □ □
according to current
since the research participants were
criteria or, for recent
not subjected to any kinds of harm
studies, and is there
since the given research has a social
evidence of ethical
value that only aims to explore and
approval by an
understand the psychological
appropriate body? Explain
experiences of nursing practitioners
while giving care to COVID 19
patients and respected everyone.
Second is that they have not violated
the anonymity of each individual and
practiced confidentiality of their
participants information, and lastly
written consent was obtained before
starting the study.

As stated in their Ethical

considerations, the researchers
obtained permission from the
 Institute of Ethical Committee before
starting their study.

8. The data was collected using

8. How were data collected?
convenient sampling, wherein the
□ □ □ □
Discuss the
researchers used this specific type of
appropriateness of
non-probability sampling method
tools/instruments used in
since the data needed is saturated
the study? Explain only for nurses who works in Covid-
19 areas, which makes it easier for
the researcher to gather the necessary
data. There were total of 15 nurses
interviewed. The tools used are
divided into two sections constitute
of Socio demographic profile of each
nurse and Interview questionnaire.

The data collection procedure was

done by face-to-face interview 20-30
minutes each nurse. The researchers
used Interview method the
appropriate tool for this study since
the interview questionnaire is an
open-ended question. Moreover, with
the use of this, it allows the
respondents to express themselves
better as well as the researchers to
have an in depth understanding of
subjective experiences, behaviour of
 each nurse.

Yes. The date presented were

managed systematically and
collectively. The transition from
recording to verbatim by the
researchers to analyse and interpret
9. Were data collected and qualitative data are well composed.
managed systematically? Prior to interview, information sheets □ □ □ □
How were data analyzed, and written consent were obtained
interpreted? from them for ethical considerations.
After interviewing the participants,
the essential information gathered by
the researchers, and percentage were
also shown.

10. Is the description of

findings thorough? Did □ □ □ □
results reflect rigor in data
analysis? Explain
11. Do you agree with the Yes. The findings correspond to the □ □ □ □
data gathered by the researchers on
findings? Explain
the conducted interview subjectively
answered by the clinical nurses. It
was shown in the results that the
nurses experienced different
physical and psychological difficulties
 while handling Covid-19 patients.
These include helplessness,
discouragement, and inability to
help patients. Additionally, the
findings also showed the struggles of
nurses’ while wearing PPE, such mild
discomfort, weight loss, diminished
vision and hearing which are also
stated by the nurses in the
interview. Moreover, in coping
strategies, the nurses had come up
with different coping strategies such,
walk in parks, self-confidence and
being knowledgeable about
diseases, and specifically support
from both family and friends had
made a huge factor for nurses'
resiliency while working in Covid-19
areas.

Based on the drawn findings and

12. What did you get or learn
conclusions, nurses have both
□ □ □ □
from conclusion/s that
experienced physical and
was/were drawn from the
psychological stressors while battling
findings?
with COVID-19 patients together
with difficulties they have
encountered while wearing PPE all
day which hinders them in rendering
care to the positive patients. We
have ascertained that the nurses
being resilient still manage to
manifest professionalism by knowing
their responsibilities and taking the
risk to give the best care to their
patients. However, we cannot
control the anxiety and stress they
have exhibited towards the rapid
increase of COVID-19 patients, the
fear of not fulfilling the needs and
delivering quality care to the
patients since they only have limited
time exposure. In this situation, we
have learned so far that nurses
showed their compassion towards
their patients even if they had to see
a lot of patients suffering from the
said virus and young children dying
after a few hours because of COVID.
Other than that, as we reflect on the
experiences of the nurses during this
pandemic, support and motivation
from family, relatives, friends, and
with the healthcare team is the most
important thing they need to cope
up with the drastic situation that has
 happened.

This study is relevant to nursing

practice as it tackles the situation we
are in right now. From this study we
can know what the nurses are
experiencing and what stressors
they are enduring and how COVID-
19 has affected their life. This means
that nurses may use this study to
13. What meaning and gain some insights to further
relevance does the study enhance their skills amidst the □ □ □ □
have for nursing practice? pandemic and could help further
Explain strengthen the precautions to
provide the utmost care to the
patients. This study also be applied
when it comes to other nursing
practice, not just during the COVID-
19 because as nurses we are
required to provide optimum care to
our patients.