NURSING

Nursing: The Impact of Physical Inactivity in Long-Term Care Settings during Covid-19 Pandemic- Case Study of Residents in Edmonton General Continuing Care Center (EGCCC)

Research Methodology

Statement of Purpose

It has been observed undoubtedly, corroborated by research, that the Covid 19 pandemic has launched some unwanted restrictions on the lives of people worldwide. People of all ages, from children to elderly adults, have been massively influenced, particularly older people who are already physically weak and could not do anything at their homes except rest. Social distancing and isolation have caused lesser physical activity, leading to mental health disturbances like stress, depression, and anxiety (Cunningham & OSullivan, 2020).

In the previous paper, a research question was developed, asking whether there is any relationship between physical declines in the elderly people residing in EGCCC and the pandemic restrictions imposed during Covid-19? This paper aims to provide the papers purpose statement and elucidate the research methodology for the selected project.

The purpose statement is to find a relationship between physical inactivity that might be forced by Covid 19 pandemic restrictions generated by the government. Although it is clearly understood that the restrictions for social distancing and less mobilization are for public safety against the virus, there still has been an effect in the support network for the older people residing in long-term care facilities. Therefore, the purpose statement would be to explore whether there is a connection between physiological declines in elderly peoples health due to the sedentary behavior that are living in EGCCC long-term care facility from the governments imposed limitations with the advent of Covid 19.

The purpose statement unmistakably discerns that the population under study would be the elderly residents at Edmonton General Continuing Care Center who are 65 years or above. The facility is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are the senior citizens who need special physical and psychological care, and therefore, are sensitive towards the changes related to inactivity. Most of them are at the risk of developing chronic diseases if they become inactive for a longer period. The decisions for their care and support need to be well-thought, even during a global pandemic like Covid 19.

Description of Methodology

Mixed methods methodology

Mixed methods (MM) methodology would be used in the current research with qualitative and quantitative research designs. However, qualitative research design would remain the dominant one as the opinions and self-reported views of the older people of EGCC would be obtained to see whether there has been an actual relationship between their physical health and inactivity resulting from Covid 19 restrictions.

The patient-related outcomes (PROs) are considered key elements when collecting qualitative data since the health outcomes have to be self-reported by the participants only (Regnault, Willgoss & Barbic, 2018). Combining qualitative and quantitative research methods would help discern patient priorities related to their health with scientific rigor for providing improved suggestions. MM research paradigm suggests that a clear research question would be answered by applying both qualitative and quantitative research methods; the articulation of both the research methods should be pre-specified within the study design. The response to the research questions should come from the results of both qualitative and quantitative types of research involved in MM methodology (Regnault, Willgoss & Barbic, 2018).

Several studies have stated that quality of life (QoL) in the late stages of palliative care people is related to chronic diseases that generally negatively affect them, both physically and psychologically (Frazer & Mobley, 2017). During their late-life stages, social and emotional stress are at higher rates. The patients social, spiritual, and psychological needs ask for their fulfillment, mainly arising from physical conditions and QoL. The same answers have been derived from the MM methodology. The interviews involved patients self-reported beliefs about their personal QoL that needed verification with quantified results for authentication. For the same purpose, the current study has used MM methodology as well.

The amalgamation of close-ended quantitative questions or open-ended qualitative questions in both study methods within MM methodology would help expand the research horizon of the current study. The deep insight that the researcher could gain from the narratives of the study participants in the form of their personal opinions about their physical activity and Covid restriction on long term care facilities would help generalize the data from a small sample to a larger population of the same category, whch is older adults in long term care (Dawadi, Shrestha & Giri, 2021).

Reason for selecting this research methodology

The Mixed Methods (MM) methodology is deemed best for this paper since it would help gain both attitudes and opinions of the elderly people who have experienced the restrictions of Covid 19 over their health and quantification of the actual results of the research. The use of one study method complements another since the strength of one type of research methodology counterparts the others limitations (Regnault, Willgoss & Barbic, 2018). Specifically, the researches aimed at finding the health outcomes that involve obtaining viewpoints of the study participants, as in the current study, it is preferred that mixed methods methodology should be used for getting a second opinion from the other research method if, in qualitative design, the self-reported measures...…the research question?

The data collection methods are chosen to answer the research question: whether there is a relationship between elderly residents physical inactivity in EGCCC imposed by Covid 19 restrictions. The mapping of data collection methods would be done back with the research question so that queries involved in the data collection process are aimed at only answering the research question appropriately. For this objective, two research methods have been used in MM methodology. Qualitative data and its self-reported claims for the participants should be authenticated with quantified results.

Plan for data analysis

The data in qualitative research, the interviews, would be analyzed through thematic analysis but a deductive approach. The transcripts would be listened to carefully afterward when the interviews are over by each member of our group so that errors are minimized in the analysis process. Also, the data in quantitative research would be analyzed through statistical tools that would help measure the responses with numbers. Spearmans correlation, Chi-square test, Pearsons correlation, or t-tests could be used based on the decision whether the Likert scale data would be ordinal or interval data.

Trustworthiness

Qualitative

For qualitative research within MM methodology,credibilitywould be established with the member-checking technique in which the data interpretations would be shared with the research participants (Korstjens & Moser, 2018). It would be done to allow the participants to indicate what their intentions were and make any possible errors committed so that additional information could help in rectifying the results.

Dependabilityand confirmabilitywould be certified through an audit trail technique. Each research step would be clearly described, and the records of each step would be saved throughout the entire process.

Transferabilitywould be ensured through the thick description technique. Behavior or experiences would be described in the analysis, and they would be done within a specific context for detecting the exact meaning.

Quantitative

Theinternal validitywould be ensured with careful selection of the sample participants to avoid methodological errors (Patino & Ferreira, 2018). Moreover, it would also be taken care that measurement errors should be avoided since humans do err but would be conducted through maximum vigilance.External validitywould be guaranteed by including broad criteria for measurement within the questionnaires and interviews so that the study results could be easily generalized to other similar real-life members in the study population.

Reliabilitywould be included in the quantitative research by testing whether the data collection instrument gives the same results and is consistent in the same situation if repeated. Besides, the researcher would refrain from personal opinions, biases, and objectivity so thatobjectivityin quantitative research could be prevented to a maximum extent.