A Quantitative Research Critical Appraisal
Georgetown University
Research Methods and Biostatistics for Health Care Providers
NURO 530
Dr. Maureen McLaughlin
September 26, 2013

A Quantitative Research Critical Appraisal
This paper is a quantitative research critical appraisal on the research study titled “Improving Hospice Outcomes Through Systematic Assessment”. The authors of the study are Susan C. McMillan, PhD, ARNP, FAAN, Brent J. Small, PhD, and William E. Haley PhD. The study was published in the journal Cancer Nursing 2011, volume number 34, issue 2, pages 89-97. The URL for the article is http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/737818_2.
Population
The target population for the research study was newly
90). The experimental design was appropriate given the nature of the research hypotheses. The experimental design includes randomization and allows for a cause and effect relationship between the intervention and the outcome.
Data Collection Methods The study used multiple collection data instruments for data collection. The study used the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, and the Spiritual Needs Inventory for both patients and caregivers. The instruments used only for the patients included the Palliative Performance Scale (PPP), the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS), and the Hospice Quality of Life Index (HQLI).
The SPMSQ was used for both patients and caregivers to determine eligibility for the study. Eight or more questions correctly needed to be answered correctly. The SPMSQ demonstrated validity and reliability during an earlier hospice project (McMillan et al., 2011, p. 92).
The Center for Epidemiological Study-Depression Scale is a true-false instrument and is scored as either present or absent. The Scale is seen as valid and reliable, as prior results have “indicated that Cronbach α was .92 for this short form and test-retest reliability was .83” (McMillan et al., 2011, p. 92).
The Spiritual Needs Inventory is a 17-item questionnaire