Introduction
Bedsores or pressure injuries are damage to the body or subcutaneous tissues, typically placed above a skeletal spotlight, as a consequence of strain or pressure in a mixture with deformation. They continue to be one of the most underrepresented facets in medicine (Akram et al., 2022). Pressure injury prevention is a vital component of care provision, with the principal purpose of improving patients’ and households’ life quality. Recognizing their possible early causes might help prevent their emergence (Jeengar, 2018). Hence, the given problem leads to the following research question: What knowledge do nurses hold about the bedsores (pressure injuries) among household patients with chronic diseases? The associated hypothesis can be formulated as follows: There is insufficient knowledge of bedsores among household caregivers. This research project will use quantitative methodologies to answer the research question based on health care.
Quantitative Methodologies
Experimental, quasi-experimental, causality and correlation, and descriptive methodologies make up the four most often employed approaches in quantitative methodology. The experimental method demands that the researcher mandate the treatment group so that the independent variable can be influenced (Bloomfield & Fisher, 2019). Many control approaches are utilized here, including randomization and maintaining a reference group. Establishing a control sample enables to compare and assess how well the trial group performed on the dependent variable. The employment of a counterfactual represents a feature of quasi-experimental approaches (Smajic et al., 2022). However, they differentiate from experimental methodologies, which rely on randomization and use current conditions where intervention has an adequate amount of unpredictability. When there is a statistical indication of the link between independent and dependent variables, it is called correlation (Mohajan, 2020). When there is a cause-and-effect link between variables, the research puzzle can be revealed by observing causation. Generally, when the two variables have a causal relationship and a correlation, the researcher can apply causation and correlation. Finally, a descriptive methodology is a type of analysis that focuses on outlining the characteristics of certain groups or the research issues.
Among the methodologies described above, the most appropriate one to answer my research question would be the descriptive method. Several reasons might explain why it is the best method for my research question. First, the descriptive method helps to characterize a group or phenomenon systematically. Second, since I ask ‘what’ questions and not ‘why,’ the given method can be more valuable in resolving the research puzzle than other methods that are concerned mainly with ‘why’ issues. Finally, the descriptive method offers a wide range of data collection tools.
Data Collection Tools
Experimental studies, constrained observations, survey data, case series, opinion surveys, phone interviews, and face-to-face meetings are all strategies for gathering quantitative data. Surveys and face-to-face interviews are the most appropriate for the research question above. A quantitative survey collects information by inquiring participants in open-ended, impartial questions (Bloomfield & Fisher, 2019). The replies are afterward compiled into statistical data that could be analyzed using columns, diagrams, and scatterplots. Replies to quantitative questionnaires can be discrete, multiple-choice, or stretched. Hence, this study can use surveys to observe caregivers’ dimensions and level of knowledge regarding bedsores. Alternatively, quantitative interviews also have multiple advantages. The number of responses, for instance, is more significant with interview sessions than with mail surveys. It is simpler to refuse a scrap of a manuscript than a human interviewer. Quantitative interviews might aid in the reduction of interviewee uncertainty (Mohajan, 2020). If a respondent is doubtful about the interpretation of a survey question, he or she is unlikely to ask its explanation. An interview, on the contrary, allows the investigator to define or describe any pieces that might be unclear.
For this study, close-ended questions seem to be the most appropriate method for data collection. Owing to its quickness in both collection and analysis, this method can be the best among others, considering the large amount of data to gather. The primary value, however, is the opportunity to view the event in natural, unaltered surroundings, preventing the causes of deviance. Furthermore, the possible challenges would include a lack of statistical tests and verifications, which may present a certain level of bias.
Importance of Relevant Methodology to the Research Plan
Data collection is critical in a study design because it aids in the interpretation of records. A structured tactic for data analysis guarantees strictness and reliability in building theories. While methodologically relevant data collection facilitates to develop a reliable research plan, its specific mechanisms can lead to valid conclusions. For example, the data derived from interviews or surveys can reveal more about the caregivers’ awareness of bedsores than the data generated from focus groups or case studies. Therefore, researchers need to have clear targeted data collection strategies to avoid fallacies or confusion during the data analysis stage. No matter how challenging or long it may take, a researcher must carefully consider all the possible data collection tools available and select the most appropriate one among them. That is the way how robust research studies are conducted on the whole.
Conclusion
This paper formulated the research question about domestic caregivers’ knowledge regarding bedsore or pressure injuries. Furthermore, there is an associated hypothesis, which suggests that the level of that knowledge remains low. The relevant research methodologies and data collection tools were analyzed following the hypothesis. In the context of the given research question, close-ended questions seem to be the most appropriate strategies for obtaining statistical data. Next, the significance of methodologically suitable data collection to the research process was discussed. Since data gathering constitutes the critical part of any research study, all the remaining stages depend on it. Therefore, it is worth putting some effort into choosing the correct data collection strategies.
References
Akram, J., Samdani, K., Afzal, A., Khan, T. M., Umar, W., Bibi, S., Mumtaz, M., Zehra, H., Rasool, F., & Javed, K. (2022). Bed sores and associated risk factors among hospital admitted patients: A comparative cross-sectional study. American Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing Practice, 7(4), 17–25.
Bloomfield, J., & Fisher, M. J. (2019). Quantitative research design. Journal of the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses Association, 22(2), 27-30.
Jeengar, M. (2018). The effectiveness of structured teaching program regarding knowledge on preventing pressure sores among staff nurses: A pre-experimental study. Asian Journal of Nursing Education and Research, 8(4), 467.
Mohajan, H. K. (2020). Quantitative research: A successful investigation in natural and social sciences. Journal of Economic Development, Environment, and People, 9(4).
Smajic, E., Avdic, D., Pasic, A., Prcic, A., & Stancic, M. (2022). A mixed methodology of scientific research in healthcare. Acta Informatica Medica, 30(1), 57.