Critique of Sundborg et al.'s study on nurse preparedness for intimate partner violence

Sundborg et al. (2012) conducted a quantitative study, which examined the preparedness of nurses to provide care for women who are exposed to intimate partner violence (p.1). The study was carried out on the premise that intimate partner violence (IPV) has significant effect on women's health. Therefore, nurses need adequate preparations to identify such victims and provide suitable interventions. While the study provides significant insights relating to nurses' preparedness in handling such patients, there are some drawbacks associated with it as demonstrated in this critique.

The sample for this study was randomly selected from the 174 primary health care centers that employ approximately 1,200 active nurses in Stockholm County (Sundborg et al., 2012, p.3). Since the sample was selected randomly, a probability sampling method was utilized by the researchers. Every individual in the sampling population had equal chance of being included in the study. The results from this sampling method were representative of the population since random sampling enables extrapolation of findings to the whole population. This sampling method did not introduce any bias because every individual in the sample population had equal chances of being considered and every primary health care center (PHCC) in the county was contacted and invited to participate in the research. The sample size was identified through a randomization process in which each PHCC has a unique number written on a card and placed in a pot. This resulted in identifying an adequate sampling size that represented the entire population. The rights of participants were ensured through protection of privacy and confidentiality as well as liberty to withdraw at any time. However, the researchers did not clearly identify eligibility criteria and delimitations for participating in the study.

Data Collection

Data collection instruments for this study are clearly identified since the researchers utilized a questionnaire, which was reviewed and modified by Statistics Sweden, a professional survey designer. Given the nature of this research, the use of questionnaires that were distributed to the selected primary health care centers in the county was appropriate. The data collection procedures are similar for all subjects since a similar questionnaire with 29 questions was used in each PHCC that participated in the study. Consequently, this data collection instrument was reliable and valid to generate findings that could be representative of the entire population. Nonetheless, the researchers did not establish the reliability and validity of the data collection instruments prior to the study. The research does not also provide information on methods utilized by the researchers to test the reliability and validity of this data collection instrument. This is a major drawback of this study given that testing the reliability and validity of data collection instruments is crucial towards generating accurate findings.

Analysis of Findings/Discussion

The hypothesis in this study was supported as the researchers found that there are weaknesses about nurses' preparedness to care for female patients exposed to intimate partner violence. The results of this study were interpreted in the context of the hypothesis, theoretical framework, and problem. This is evidenced in the fact that researchers examined the results based on personal attitudes of nurses, organizational conditions, personal experiences, and training. Following this contextual analysis, the study provides generalizations on the extent with which nurses are prepared to care for women exposed to IPV. There are two unwarranted interpretations of causality made by these researchers i.e. organizational conditions and personal attitudes towards intimate partner violence. The tables and graphs utilized in the data analysis section support the text or findings in the discussion section.

Conclusions, Implications and Recommendations

The study concluded that nurses are relatively unprepared to offer appropriate care to women exposed to IPV (Sundborg et al., 2012, p.10). These results are presented in a concise manner and supported by the literature. The researchers also identified limitations of the study including the wide nature of the confidence intervals in the regression models. Secondly, participants who did not return or answer the questionnaires were not further contacted. The study identified one implication for nursing practice i.e. using the study's findings to establish nursing educational programmes for practitioners in primary health care to help improve preparedness in caring for women exposed to IPV. However, the study does not provide recommendations for future research.

Reference

Sundborg, E.M., Saleh-Stattin, N., Wandell, P. & Tornkvist, L. (2012, January 10). Nurses' Preparedness to Care for Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: A Quantitative Study in Primary Health Care. BMC Nursing, 11(1), 1-11.