Ridge and Goodson (2000), Through

Ridge and Goodson (2000), through the use of functional status of the patients before and after a hip replacement, strive to lay the ground work for the development of comprehensive outcome measures for patients who undergo total hip replacement. This study utilizes the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) and the hip outcome tool. The statistically significant findings include the improvement in functional status between preoperative and postoperative measures on the SIP, including ambulation, mobility, and body care.

This was not the case with the hip outcome tool which did not show significant improvements in mobility or body care. Psychosocial findings were significant for alertness, emotional behavior, and social interaction. Additional indicators of sleep, home management, and recreation all showed improvement. The findings have clinical significance in that the caution us in using pain levels to make discharge decisions or in determining progress while a person is inpatient due to the variability in pain perception amongst participants (Ridge & Goodson, 2000).

3) Selection threat poses jeopardizes the internal validity of this study due to the fact that participants self-selected and that 50% of the persons recruited chose not to participate (Ridge & Goodson, 2000). Yet validity is demonstrated in the consistency in age, length of hospital stay, and gender between participants and those who chose not to participate. The lack of attrition of participants from the study also increases significance of the findings. 4) the limitations of this study make transferability restricted.

For example, the self-selection process, small sample size, and the difference in age between this sample and samples used in previous studies, makes for narrow transferability (Ridge & Goodson, 2000). This sample is also disproportionately male with 13 males and only 8 females, therefore findings may be more readily generalized to a male population. 5) the findings suggest that the hip outcome tool may be effective in assessing functional status of patients who have had a total hip replacement and could be implemented in clinical settings in conjunction with other measures (Ridge & Goodson, 2000).

The SIP, while a useful tool, is found to be too time consuming for implementation into routine practice. Findings may also be applied to education of patients and family members regarding outcome expectations. Patient education should focus on what patients and families can expect at three months post surgery on such factors as pain and mobility (Ridge & Goodson, 2000). The study shows that sharing of information regarding psychosocial improvements can help patients make the decision to undergo the procedure (Ridge & Goodson, 2000).

Further, the study showed that patients continued to have difficulties with lower extremity dressing at 3 months, which can aid in the process of determining aftercare services. Nursing education should be geared toward these outcome measures and the psychosocial aspects in addition to the physical factors that will need to be addressed during the recovery process. Research Report: Gance-Cleveland (2004) 1) This study sought to explore the characteristics, clinical elements, methods, and benefits of school-based support groups for children of alcoholics (COA).

Identification of this information may aid in the intervention process of adolescents who are coping with the addiction of a loved one and could improve long-term outcomes for the adolescent. 2) the author found that the support groups educated on the dangers of drug and alcohol use, improved coping strategies, enhanced resiliency factors, improved relationships, and increased school achievement. Of equal importance where the observed positive changes in behavior and an increased awareness of the effect of addiction on their lives (Gance-Cleveland, 2004).

The findings of the current study were consistent with previous literature including the ability of the group process to empower youth and create a sense of awareness that can be correlated to improved decision making and long-term outcomes. 3) This study has some significant weaknesses including sample size, lack of randomization, limited female participation, and retrospective design (Gance-Cleveland, 2004). Another limitation of the study is the role of the researcher as co-facilitator of the group.

This may have impacted internal validity in that the participants may not have felt as comfortable engaging in the group process. Lack of faculty and staff support also could have had an impact on the results of the study and the students' willingness to openly participate. Students and staff claimed that there was increased school performance as the result of participation in the study, however, school records were not able to be reviewed to confirm the significance of this finding. 4) the study provides a.