What is the purpose of this research?
The purpose of this study was to investigate the viewpoints and attitudes of patients and physicians with regards to the value of a novel technology application used to detect Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN) in healthcare settings.
What is the research question (or questions)? This may be implicit or explicit
The implied research question is as follows: What are the perceptions of physicians and patients with regards to the use of new technology devices in clinical settings?
Give a complete description of the research design of this study
The study used a qualitative research approach and two associated research designs (naturalistic observations and interviews) to collect data from the participants. Naturalistic observations of medical consultations were used to collect data on CAN tests, while interviews were used to collect pertinent data from patients and physicians.
What is the population (sample) for this study?
The study’s population (sample) comprised physicians exposed to the new technology and patients who had received the CAN test at a Danish specialist health care facility.
Was the sampling approach adequate for the research design that was selected and explain why
The purposive sampling strategy used in the study was adequate for observational and interview research designs under providing the researchers with settings that were aligned with the research purpose and participants who were knowledgeable about the main issues of interest.
Describe the data collection procedure
In naturalistic observations, Pals et al. (2015) collected field notes based on an observation guide to capturing data on the use of the CAN test results and how communication was done. Semi-structured interview guides were used to collect qualitative data from physicians and patients about the assumptions, perceptions, and knowledge of the initiation of the CAN test.
How were the data analyzed?
Data for the study were analyzed qualitatively using content analysis with the view to methodically make inferences or deductions about the intentions and elucidations of physicians and patients with regards to the use of the new technology.
Discuss the limitations found in the study?
First, many patients were unable to recall the CAN test and hence could not provide their own authentic experiences with the technology application. Additionally, only a few of the invited physicians participated in the study, meaning that their views and perspectives could not represent the voice of the majority. Lastly, the researchers failed to compare the new technology with other technological applications that have been in use at the clinic for longer durations of time.
Discuss the authors’ conclusions. Do you feel these conclusions are based on the data that they collected?
Pals et al. (2015) concluded that physicians experienced barriers in communicating the significance of test results to patients and also in translating these results into important implications for patient treatment; however, patients themselves were normally uncertain about the meaning of the test results and did not indicate that the new technology application would inspire them to change their behavioral patterns. These conclusions are based on the data collected from the field.
How does this advance knowledge in the field?
This study advances knowledge by providing evidence to show how physicians and patients perceive new technology and interact with these applications. Specifically, it demonstrates the need to train physicians on a dialogue-based approach to communication with the view to ensuring that patients understand the need and importance of new technologies in clinical settings.
References
Pals, R. S., Hansen, U. M., Johansen, C. B., Hansen, C. S., Jørgensen, M. E., Fleischer, J., &Willaing, I. (2015). Making sense of a new technology in clinical practice: a qualitative study of patient and physician perspectives. BMC Health Services Research, 15(1), 1-10. Web.