Hypothesis testing is an essential part of the research, as it helps in making conclusions and recommendations. In evidence-based practice, care providers rely on research findings when prescribing treatment (Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, 2018). This paper will show how a hypothesis test study can help inform evidence-based practice regarding obesity management.
The research hypothesis for a test study is that in severely obese patients, bariatric surgery is linked to a more significant weight loss than lifestyle interventions alone. The null hypothesis is that the weight loss of severely obese patients following bariatric surgery is not statistically significant from that of patients treated using a lifestyle intervention alone. The primary variable measured in the proposed study is the patient’s weight loss, in the percentage of their total body mass.
It can be guessed that if the research hypothesis is true, the patients will lose on average 20% of their body weight in the six months following bariatric surgery. Those who were treated using a lifestyle intervention, on the other hand, are expected to lose 5-10% of their body weight over the same period. However, if the null hypothesis is correct, there will either be no statistically significant difference in the results, or the weight loss of patients in the lifestyle intervention group will be higher than of those in the bariatric surgery group.
The information obtained from the study could be used to guide evidence-based practice in obesity management. For example, if bariatric surgery proves to be more efficient in terms of weight loss than a lifestyle intervention, care providers should recommend it to severely obese patients who are struggling to lose weight using diet and exercise. However, if the null hypothesis is true, care providers would be advised to avoid referring obese patients for bariatric surgery, as the risks of the procedure would outweigh its health benefits.
Reference
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. (2018). Evidence-based practice. Web.