Evaluating Qualitative Research on Prostate Cancer Experience

Introduction and Research Problem

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the research study titled "The Lived Experience of Men Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer" (Krumwiede & Krumwiede, 2012, p. E443) in order to demonstrate evidence-based nursing practice. The study uses a descriptive qualitative technique to collect data from a sample population of 10 older men suffering from prostate cancer, and the methodology used to collect data consists of open-ended questions delivered through semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data analysis was carried out, and the findings helped enhance a greater understanding of how the participants live with cancer.

An overview of the research reveals that Krumwiede and Krumwiede (2012) identify the research problem by pointing out that "prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men and the second leading cause of cancer-related death for men in the United States" (p. E443). The authors note that an estimated 241,740 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed in 2012 and that approximately 28,170 men were likely to die from the disease. The authors also argue that one out of six men will die of prostate cancer if it is not diagnosed in time.

Polit and Beck (2013) argue that a research study requires formulating clearly defined research problems, since the goal of research is ultimately to solve problems. Despite the effective way the authors identified the research problem, the study does not describe the theoretical or philosophical basis on which the research is grounded. The study does clearly state that its research purpose is to investigate the lived experience of men living with prostate cancer, and this purpose assists in understanding the research focus. However, the authors do not state specific research questions or a hypothesis, which represents one of the study's notable shortcomings. Polit and Beck (2013) argue that evidence-based research should state the research questions the study intends to answer in order to address its research problems, since the identification of such questions helps guide researchers in determining what type of data to collect. The significance of the study lies in its capacity to encourage patients to discuss their experience with prostate cancer, which in turn helps nurses deliver appropriate care.

Literature Review

The review of literature in the study does not adequately summarize the existing body of knowledge with reference to the phenomenon of interest. In the contemporary research environment, reviewing past studies is critical in evidence-based research. An overview of the study reveals that the authors cite only American Cancer Society literature, which is insufficient to support a thorough understanding of the phenomenon. Furthermore, the sources reviewed are not peer-reviewed, which represents another significant shortcoming of the study.

The benefit of a literature review is that it allows researchers to explore past studies related to the research focus, which helps identify gaps in the existing research. It also assists in developing an effective research design. Despite these shortcomings, the literature reviewed does provide a sound basis for the study in some respects. For example, the study is able to describe the epidemiology of prostate cancer in the United States.

The authors also implemented procedures to protect participants. For example, the researchers sought approval from an institutional review board before collecting data. However, the protection of human participants is not fully documented, as the authors do not provide detailed information about the specific methods used to safeguard participant welfare. Polit and Beck (2013) point out that researchers are required to stipulate the ethical procedures that will be implemented for the study. Part of these ethical procedures involves educating participants about the importance of the research and assuring them that their personal information will remain confidential and will not be shared with third parties without their consent.

Research Design and Sample

While the authors do not develop research questions to guide the resolution of the research problems, the study does establish a research design intended to address those problems. For example, the authors select participants from among men suffering from prostate cancer, aged between 62 and 70, since this age range carries heightened susceptibility to the disease. Despite the care taken in selecting participants, the researchers did not recruit participants from different ethnic groups in the United States; participants are predominantly Caucasian. Selecting participants from a variety of ethnic backgrounds would have helped produce richer data applicable to a wider range of populations in the United States.

An overview of the research design reveals that the researchers made key decisions early in the process, including seeking approval from an institutional review board before collecting data from participants. Despite the care employed in the research design, the study would have benefited from combining qualitative and quantitative methods in order to strengthen the overall design (Creswell, 2009). A mixed-methods strategy would have assisted the researchers in collecting data from a larger number of participants.

The sample population consists of 10 English-speaking Caucasian men. Access to participants was gained through "the snowball technique to obtain a convenience sample of 10 men with prostate cancer" (Krumwiede & Krumwiede, 2012, p. E444). The snowball sampling technique predetermined the sample size in part because semi-structured interviews are time-consuming. While the number of participants was mentioned, the demographic data of participants were not discussed in detail. The process of participant selection focused primarily on older adult patients suffering from prostate cancer, a strategy that assisted the researcher in understanding their lived experience with the disease. Although the study stipulates that approval was granted by the board of a university before data collection began, the authors did not specify the location of the study, which introduces unnecessary ambiguity into the research.

References

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches (3rd ed.). Sage.

Krumwiede, K., & Krumwiede, N. (2012). The lived experience of men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 39(5), E443–E450.

Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2013). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice (8th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.