Reading Research Literature #2 – Week 4 (2 Pages)
Type your answers to the following questions using complete sentences and correct grammar, spelling and syntax. Click “Save as” and save the file with your last name and assignment, e.g.,”NR449_RRL2_Smith” Submit to the Reading Research Literature #2 basket in the Dropbox by 11:59 p.m. MT Sunday at the end of Week 4. The guidelines and grading rubric for this assignment may be found in Doc Sharing.

Title: RRL#2
Name: [replace this text with your name]
The following questions pertain to: 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. 1) Describe the population for this study.
The population that this study utilized was caregivers who took care of family members who had HF in the Southeastern part of the U.S.

2) How was the sample selected? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this sampling strategy? The sample was recruited from adult day care facilities, cardiology offices, and inpatient hopitals. The strength of this sample was the amount of variation it included, which accounted for caregivers from each of the four stageso f HF, and spanned a variety of nationalities, employment statuses, and genders. The only weakness in th sampling strategy was that there were only 20 participants. 3) Were the subjects in this study vulnerable? Were there any risks for them as the result of participation in the research study?
The caregivers interviewed in the study were not vulnerable at all They simply explained their experiences regarding their process of decision making in the comfort of their own homes. The only potential risk was possibly causing emotional trauma by having caregivers discuss various ramifications of this condition of their loved ones. 4) Are there any HIPAA concerns that are evident in this study? 5) Due to the fact that this study had Institutional Review Board approval and consent from patients and their caregivers, it appeared in accordance with HIPAA regulations. 6) What methods were put in place to ensure that the subjects were giving true informed consent?
There was Institutional Review Board approval of this study. The researchers refer to the fact that “informed consent was obtained” (Sanford et al, 2011, p. 59)

7) What was the setting for the study?
Thestudy was largely conducted within the homes of the caregivers who were interviewed.

8) Was the sample adequate for the research design that was selected?
It was adequate since caregivers were selected from patients who were in all four stages of HF. However, the study certainly could have benefitted from a larger sample size.

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, 23(1), 18-26. 9) Describe the population for this study.
The population for this study was heart failure patients who had been recently released from a tertiary teaching hospital in Northeastern Ohio.

10) How was the sample selected? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this sampling strategy?
The sample was selected by choosing heart failure patients who were discharged to home treatment who would caregiver who was a family member. The patient had to have a New York Heart Association classification for HF or one ADL that involved a family caregiver. Additionally, those selected for the sample had to speak Enlgish. The strength of this sample is that those selected for it were at a high rsik for needing to return to the hospital for care for HF. It is also beneifical that over 500 patients were screened for the sample The only potential weakenss is that it may have been beneficial to have more than 84 participants in the study

11) Were the subjects in this study vulnerable? Were there any risks for them as the result of participation in the research study?
There were no risks or vulnerabilities for the patients or their caretakers in this study, for the simple fact that the setting took place in the homes of the patients, who only conducted interviews. Plus, the patients and their caregivers were well trained in the usage of the EHM system, and received standard treatement for their conditions during the data collection phase of the study.

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

There were no HIPAA concerns, particularly since HIPPA authorization was provided by patients. 13) What methods were put in place to ensure that the subjects were giving true informed consent?
There were several such methods that ensured patients gave their full consent to the study. In addition to providing the HIPAA authorization, patients issued verbal sent prior to their being dischargedfrom the hospital. They also received a formal letter explaining the nature of the the study,and provided their phone numbers. 14) What was the setting for the stud
The setting took place in the homes of the patients. That is where they were interviewed. 15) Was the sample adequate for the research design that was selected?
Since the sample size was based on the difference in the ratios of patients readmitted in the controls and in the intervention group, the size was adequate. It would have been beneficial to have included a larger sample size, however.

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

Schwarz, K. A., Mion, L. C., Hudock, D., & Litman, G. (2008). Telemonitoring of heart failure patients and their caregivers: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Progress in Cardiovascular Nursing, 23, 18-26.