Research Critique, Part 2
INTRODUCTION
Approximately 20 million low birth weight (LBW) infants (infants weighing < 2,500 gm) are born each year (Samra, Taweel, & Cadwell, 2013). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), LBW infants are "more likely to die early, and those who survive may suffer illness, stunted growth or even problems into adult life" (WHO, 2015). Nyqvist et al. (2010) states kangaroo mother care (KMC) started in Colombia in the 1970s (as cited in Samra, et al., 2013, p. 194). "The hallmark of KMC is the kangaroo position: the infant is cared for skin-to-skin (ventral surface of the mother to ventral surface of the baby) vertically between the mother's breasts and under her clothes, 24 hr per day, with the father/substitute(s) participating as relief KMC providers" (Samra et al., 2013, p. 194). Care of the LBW infants has an increased cost since most end up in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The effect of intermittent (KMC) on the weight gain of LBW infants was the main point of this study (Samra, et al, 2013). Because of the increased cost associated with taking care of the LBW infant, if studies can show that intermittent KMC could decrease the length of time the infant stays in the NICU, then this practice would be beneficial to both the family and the health care facility. Topics to be discussed in this paper include 1) protection of human participants, 2) data collection, 3) data management and analysis, and 4) findings/interpretation of findings: implications for practice and future research.

PROTECTION OF HUMAN PARTICIPANTS There are many benefits to KMC two of which include reduction in neonatal mortality and morbidity particularly with infections in the first week of life, according to Lawn, Mwansa-Kambafwile, Horta, Barros and Cousens (2010), (as cited in Samra et al., 2013, p. 195). This study took place in the NICU at Fayoum University Hospital in Fayoum, Egypt. Parental consent was obtained for the 40 neonates who participated in this study once the infants were stabilized and the parents informed of the study. The 22 neonates in the KMC group were provided with KMC twice daily, 7 days per week, for at least one hour at a time (Samra et al., 2013, p.196). Participation in this study was completely voluntary. "The study followed the principles of research ethics adopted by the 18th World Medical Assemble, Helsinki, Finland, June 1964 and amendments including approval by the University Hospital's Institutional Review Board (IRB)" (Samra et al., 2013, p. 195).
DATA COLLECTION The independent variable in this study was KMC and dependent variable was weight gain in LBW infants. Data collected included blood work to determine the infants' nutritional status and daily weight measurements. Nutritional status for all 40 neonates was assessed by following "serum electrolytes, blood gases, complete blood count, daily urine output, renal and liver functions, serum albumin, and other investigations" (Samra et al., 2013, p. 196). "Weight was measured for the babies without clothes by using a calibrated electronic scale (Laica Model BF 2051) 3 times per day by the same investigator. The mean was taken and recorded as daily weight, and the mean rate of daily weight gain was calculated as the secondary outcome measure" (Samra et al., 2013, p. 196). Postnatal age of regaining birth weight, the primary outcome measure, was recorded. Time period for data collection began on date of entry to the study, day eight of life, and ended when the primary outcome was obtained (postnatal age of regained birth weight) (Samra et al., 2013).
DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS Data for this study was analyzed using SPSS win statistical package version 15 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) (Samra et al., 2013, p. 196). Numerical data were expressed as mean, standard deviation, and range with comparison between two groups done by using Mann-Whitney test for univariate analysis (Samra et al., 2013, p. 196). "Factors possibly affecting the numerical outcome measures were tested in a general linear model univariate analysis for detection of the independent factors. A p value