Study designs for DPI project

DPI
The PICOT question is: To what extent is there a relationship between the standard health education to implement patient-specific dietary and lifestyle modifications compared to patients who receive culturally tailored diabetes education and the reduction of A1C levels among Asian Americans newly diagnosed for type 2 diabetes after 3 months following initial diagnosis?
Topic 1.
This DPI will use a quantitative research design that is correlational. Though Abrahamse, Schultz and Steg (2015) indicate that a quasi-experimental study is helpful for identifying a cause-and-effect relationship, this study assumes that a relationship exists between the variables and the question asked is regarding the extent to which the relationship is significant. A correlational research design is appropriate when the study seeks to determine the extent of a relationship between two variables (Mills, Gay & Airasian, 2012). Here, the relationship between culturally-tailored health instruction on diabetes and the reduction of A1C levels is compared to the relationship between standard health education and A1C levels
In this DPI, the independent variable being investigated is the intervention—health education—and the dependent variable is A1C levels. Whether culturally tailored diabetes education is more effective than standard health education on dietary and lifestyle modifications for Asian American patients with type 2 diabetes is what this study aims to answer. To answer that question, a quantitative method is useful, as it provides a statistical way to measure the outcome to see if one variable is more significantly effective than another.
The quantitative method provides statistical evidence that can be analyzed using tests to explain the data. The method is different from qualitative approach in that the latter looks to identify themes and concepts that can explain a phenomenon. Quantitative method provides numbers and statistics that can be used to show a relationship or the extent of a relationship between variables, which is why it aligns with this particular PICOT question.
Topic 2.
Matched comparison group design aligns with methodology described in Topic 1. The two groups compared in the PICOT are 1) Asian Americans newly diagnosed for type 2 diabetes, receiving culturally tailored diabetes education to implement patient-specific dietary and lifestyle modifications, and 2) Asian Americans newly diagnosed for type 2 diabetes, receiving standard health education to implement patient-specific dietary and lifestyle modifications.
The correlational design fits with the quantitative method in that it allows two variables to be compared so that the extent to which there exists a relationship can be statistically determined. This helps to show whether one relationship is stronger or whether one variable is more significantly impactful on another variable. The matched comparison group design allows the two different groups—the one that receives the intervention and the one that does not—to be compared so that a better understanding of the impact of the independent variable on the dependent variable can be determined. In this case, this method aligns with the research design because it facilitates a statistical examination of the data, obtained through measurement of the A1C levels of the population.
References
Abrahamse, W., Schultz, P. W., & Steg, L. (2015). Research Designs for Environmental
Issues. Research Methods for Environmental Psychology, 53.
Mills, G. E., Gay, L. R. & Airasian. (2012). Educational research: Competencies for
analysis and applications. Boston, MA: Pearson Publishing.