Research Study Research Study Selection

RESEARCH STUDY

Research Study Selection

Nurs 406: Evidence-Based Practice for RN-BSN

Reiter, M., Gerken, M., Lindberg-Scharf, P., Fuerst, A., Liebig-Horl, G., Ortmann, O., Eberl, I., & Bartholomeyczik, S. (2021). Health services research in colorectal cancer: A quasi-experimental interventional pilot study on in and out-patient oncology. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 147(1), 1789-1802. DOI: 10.1007/s00432-020-03454-w

METHODOLOGY/DESIGN – the study adopts an experimental methodology with a quasi-experimental research design. In an experimental study, the researcher manipulates the independent variable to see the resultant changes in the dependent variable. An experimental study could be a true experiment or a quasi-experimental study. A quasi-experimental study is one that tests an intervention’s causal impact but does not involve the random assignment of subjects. Instead, the assignment of subjects is based on a non-random criterion. In this study, subjects are assigned to either the treatment or control group based on their date of treatment (Reiter et al., 2021). Those who received treatment between May 2015 and august 2016 were assigned to the intervention group, while those treated between January 2014 and April 2015 were assigned to the control group (Reiter et al., 2021).

PROBLEM STATEMENT – the study seeks to address the problem of unmet health needs for colorectal cancer patients. Evidence shows that colorectal cancer patients often lack nurse counselling support to effectively manage symptoms and side effects (Reiter et al., 2021). Further, despite weight loss being a common occurrence among colorectal patients, most of them lack access to nutritional support, resulting in poor health outcomes. With the growing incidence of cancer globally, it is important to develop interventions aimed at addressing these patient care deficits.

PURPOSE STATEMENT - the purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of nutritional and oncology nurse counselling as an intervention for improving nutritional behaviour and side effects management among colorectal cancer patients.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE – the independent variables are systematic nutritional counselling and oncology nurse counselling.

DEPENDENT VARIABLE – the dependent variable is patient self-management regarding nutritional behaviour and side effects management.