Analyzing Quantitative Journal Article

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. Telemonitoring know-how provides one of the most auspicious alternatives to the delivery of health care services at the home of a patient. This research study was purposed to assess the effect of a primary care-based telemonitoring intervention on the rate of recurrence of hospital admissions.

The main research question discussed in this article is whether telemonitoring can benefit heart failure and chronic lung disease and thereby decrease the number of patient admissions. Type of Quantitative Sampling With respect to quantitative sampling, the study used a stratified random sampling by disease, whether heart failure (HF), chronic lung disease (CLD) or both, was made up of the random selection of patients for apportionment to the control and intervention groups from three ampoules, holding the programs of the preliminary patients.

Succeeding draws were undertaken to sustain the 1:1 ratio between the two groups of study. The variables that were studied in the research study included age of the patients as well as the caregivers, their gender, ethnic background, marital status, level of education and functional status, which included the ability to perform ADLs and IADLs at the baseline, and lastly, the comorbidities of the patients.

Describe the Research Design The design of the research study is a randomized controlled trial that is undertaken to evaluate and appraise the influence that telemonitoring intervention has on home care patients suffering from heart failure and or chronic lung disease. Participants in the Intervention group were monitored through telemonitoring, while those in the control group received standard care. Comparisons were made between the outcomes of the study and standard health care practice. In overall, the study took a period of one year.

Intervening data analysis was undertaken after 3 and 6 months of continuous observation and the ultimate outcomes were attained at 12 months' post-randomization. Instruments Used in the Study, Reliability and Validity There were several ways in which the authors addressed reliability and validity of their data collection and analysis of the instruments used. To ensure validity and reliability, the caregivers as well as the patients gave both oral and written consent and also authorization with regards to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The data collected was also validated by professionals.

For instance, the principal investigator validated the analysis of systolic as well as diastolic heart failure with regards to the chart reviews. All this was undertaken after consent is given by the patient. With regards to the analysis of the instruments used, the authors relied on the tools of measurement. For instance, the functional status, which consists of the ability to perform ADLs and IADLs was measured by the ADL tool. Type of Data Analysis The study used inferential tests in the analysis of the data.

These tests included Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman correlation coefficient, intention-to-treat analysis, chi-square tests, t-tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests and Cox proportional hazard model. Conclusions The research study was not generalizable as it specifically takes into account the manner in which telemonitoring can be of assistance to not only heart failure patients, but also those suffering from Chronic Lung Disease. The information conveyed was indeed understandably and meaningfully relayed. In addition, the study takes into account reliability of the data to show effectiveness of results.