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Researchable Problem
Research Committee Module #4
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Qualitative Research
Used when little is known about a phenomenon
Focused on developing a rich, holistic description of
phenomena
Data are non numerical (i.e., dialogue, observation,
etc.)
Phases of the research process
Thinking
-identifying
problem & purpose
-reviewing literature Planning
Informing -Choosing study
-disseminating results design & planning
(journal articles, approach to sample,
presentations etc.) data collection etc.
Analyzing
- analyze data and Implementing
interpret findings - Recruiting
participants &
collecting data
(Norwood, 2000)
Identifying
the research problem
Critical first step in research process
Directs the entire research process and
decisions you will make
Being clear about the problem you wish
to address will assist in focusing your
study
Start with a broad area of
interest/concern which is gradually
refined until you have a research
problem
Steps in identifying
a research problem
1. Outline areas of interest
Read about your Observe your
interests environment
2. Choose a topic Be curious
Talk to your
Colleagues
Ask questions
Find out what
3. Narrow your topic
others are
doing
Identifying a research
problem
Area of interest
• The number of adults over 65 on
dialysis is growing
• Aging is often associated with
physical and mental changes that may
put older persons’ safety at risk
• Physiological and psychosocial
stressors associated with dialysis may
also place people at risk for safety
concerns
• Elderly people on dialysis may
therefore be particularly vulnerable to
safety issues.
Narrowing the topic
• Consider the potential topic “Safety
issues among elderly on dialysis”
• Take a minute and brainstorm
questions about this topic
• What do you think needs to be known
about this topic?
• Write down everything that comes to
mind - don’t rule anything out at this
point
Safety issues for elderly on dialysis:
Example Questions
1. Is safety an important concern for
elderly on dialysis?
2. What are the common safety issues for
elderly on dialysis?
3. Are there different safety issues for
elderly on peritoneal versus
hemodialysis?
4. How common are falls in elderly
dialysis patients? What factors
contribute to falls?
5. Should nurses assess safety issues
among elderly dialysis patients?
Identifying
researchable problems
In reviewing the questions from the previous slide
• Question # 2 “ What are the common safety
issues for elderly on dialysis?” was selected
as the focus.
• Questions # 3 & 4 have potential but may
require us to answer question 2 first.
• Questions # 1 and 5 were excluded because
they elicit “yes/no” answers or opinion and
therefore are not researchable.
What are the safety concerns among
elderly on dialysis?
A brief review of the literature focusing
on “safety” “dialysis” and “elderly”
uncovered
Research focusing on safety of various
medications and dialysis delivery methods
among all age groups
No literature was found that examined safety
concerns unique to older people on dialysis
Therefore, this was identified as a potential gap
in the literature and a decision was made to
continue to focus on this problem
What are the safety concerns among
elderly on dialysis?
To focus your topic further pose additional
questions to help you be clear on what you are
interested in. For example:
– What is meant by safety concerns?
– How do you define “elderly”?
– Whose perspective are you interested in the patient?
Family? Nurses? Other health care professionals?
– Are you interested in safety issues in the dialysis
unit? At home?
– Are you interested in safety concerns for elderly on
all forms of dialysis?
Problem statement & purpose
• Elderly patients on dialysis may be at
increased risk for physical injury while at
home as result of the aging process and the
consequences of CKD and dialysis.
• However, little is known about safety
concerns for elderly individuals on dialysis
who live at home
• Therefore, the purpose of this study is to
explore concerns that individuals over 65 on
all forms of dialysis have about their safety
while at home.
References
Burns, N., & Grove, S. (2005). The practice of
nursing research: Conduct, critique and
utilization (5th ed.). St. Louis:
Elsevier Saunders.
Leedy, P., & Ormrod, J.E. (2005). Practical
research: Planning and design (8th ed.).
New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Norwood, S. (2000). Research strategies for
advanced practice nurses. New Jersey:
Prentice Hall
References
Polit, D., & Beck, C.T. (2008). Nursing
Research: Generating and asssessing
evidence for practice (8th ed.).
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and
Wilkins.