NR 439 Week 6 Assignment Reading Research Literature (RRL) Worksheet

NR 439 Week 6 Assignment Reading Research Literature (RRL) Worksheet

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-439: RN Evidence-Based Practice

Prof. Name:

Date

NR 439 Week 6 Assignment Reading Research Literature (RRL) Worksheet

Name:
Date: February 14, 2021

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study was to identify effective and ineffective Active Empathetic Listening (AEL) behaviors by nurses, as perceived by adult inpatients in an acute care hospital setting. The researchers sought to determine whether active listening behaviors, such as maintaining eye contact, facing the patient, and using facial expressions, contributed positively to the patient’s overall experience. Since nurses interact most frequently with patients, understanding these behaviors is essential to improving patient care. Patient dissatisfaction, particularly regarding communication, has been linked to hospitals receiving reduced Medicare payments due to poor survey results (Myers, 2020).

Research & Design

The research employed a quantitative comparison between two groups to assess whether patients could identify differences in nurses’ AEL behaviors. The study also explored whether demographic factors influenced patients’ perceptions of AEL and identified the specific AEL behaviors that patients considered significant. Data were collected through surveys sent to patients via email or postal mail, depending on the contact information provided during their hospital admission. This quantitative design allowed the researchers to analyze participant responses by scoring and categorizing them based on the presence or absence of AEL behaviors (Myers, 2020).

Sample

The study was conducted in a large metropolitan hospital in the south-central United States, where participants were selected from acute care medical and surgical units. Eligible participants were recently discharged patients (within 15 days), aged 18 or older, English-speaking, and had a valid email or postal address. The inclusion criteria ensured that the sample consisted of adult patients who could understand and respond to the survey appropriately (Myers, 2020).

Data Collection

After obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, the Principal Investigator (PI) worked with the hospital’s Health System Information Systems Department to identify eligible patients for the study. More than 5,000 surveys were distributed, with 3,000 sent via email and 2,000 by mail. The data collection process lasted for eight months, resulting in 305 completed and returned surveys. Based on their responses, participants were categorized into two groups: group A and group B, depending on their reported experiences with AEL behaviors (Myers, 2020).

Data Analysis

The researchers utilized cross-tabulation with the chi-square test (Pearson chi-square and Cramer’s V) to examine whether demographic variables—such as gender, ethnicity, surgical or medical status, primary language, and recent readmissions—affected patients’ perceptions of AEL behaviors. This analysis was crucial for identifying potential disparities in care based on demographic differences and for determining whether certain groups experienced a more positive interaction with nurses exhibiting AEL behaviors (Myers, 2020).

Limitations

A key limitation of the study was the lack of personal contact with patients before their discharge. Informing patients about the survey and the study might have improved the response rate, as many patients were unaware they had been selected to participate. The low response rate likely led to a sample that did not fully represent the broader population, potentially introducing biases or inaccuracies into the data (Myers, 2020).

Findings/Discussion

This study introduced a focus on understanding Active Empathetic Listening from the patient’s perspective. However, several questions remain unanswered. For example, while a correlation was found between the presence of AEL and patient satisfaction, the study did not address whether AEL behaviors affected long-term outcomes, such as patient adherence to post-discharge education. Further research is necessary to determine the complete impact of AEL behaviors on patient outcomes (Myers, 2020).

Reading Research Literature

Understanding research literature is crucial for comprehending the study’s purpose, target population, and the effects of its outcomes. By grasping research findings, healthcare professionals can evaluate whether certain practices would be beneficial in their own settings. This worksheet helped break down complex research into more manageable sections, making it easier to extract key points and gain a better understanding of the study (Myers, 2020).

References

Myers, K., Krepper, R., Nibert, A., & Toms, R. (2020). Nurses’ active empathetic listening behaviors from the voice of the patient. Nursing Economics, 38(5), 267-276.

NR 439 Week 6 Assignment Reading Research Literature (RRL) Worksheet

This table organizes the key points from the study and the worksheet, providing a structured overview of the study and its components.