Blog

I will email this as well. Can I use writer 1505 again?
See attached files

Methodology Assignment
Ungraded, 100 Possible Points

This assignment will focus on the research methodology for the study that you proposed in your Problem Significance and Review of Literature Assignment. Once again, your modules and your textbook will help you develop the sections of this paper. For example, when you are deciding on your study design, you will go to the Module 6 and review the power points and read Chapters 9 and 10 in your textbook. The information in these resources will help you decide on the type of design that best fits your study.
Here are some tips for the sections of the Methodology Assignment. Use the following headings to develop APA headings for your paper. Include the following information in each section.
Purpose: Use the corrected draft from your other assignment. Identify the purpose of the study. You will write this as: The purpose of the study is to….
Methodology
Research Design: identify the type of design you will use. Be specific—descriptive, quasi-experimental or experimental is not enough. Examples might include: Randomized control trial, cohort, correlational, pre-test-post-test, etc. The text provides descriptions of the designs. Be sure to include why the design is appropriate for the study. This sentence should be referenced. For example:

o
Type of design: A cross-sectional, correlational study will be conducted to examine the relationship between knowledge of HIV transmission, prophylactic use of antiretroviral medications, altruism, and the use of safe sexual practices (no reference needed since this is our study). A cross-sectional design is a non-experimental research design in which the data is collected at one point in time (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2019). Because participants will be completing variable specific questionnaires at one point in time, the research design is appropriate for the study.
Extraneous variables: These can be situational—such as a cold environment when taking a test, personal—such as an individual taking a test being sleepless; or researcher based—such as if the researcher gave clues on how to act or respond during the study. Additionally, using self-report instruments or tools might be an extraneous variable—because the individual is having to ‘self-report information’).
Sampling plan: describe the type of sampling plan you will conduct—usually a non-probability or probability sample—the LoBiondo-Wood and Haber textbook describes the types of sampling plans you can choose to fit your study. Be sure to indicate the specific sampling plan and to reference the information.

o Population: include the population your sample will represent and an estimated sample size you would obtain to conduct the study. Be sure to include exclusion and inclusion criteria and remember that these criteria can help to control extraneous variables and bias too.
o Obtaining sample: describe how you would obtain the sample. Describe your recruitment process or any plans for using flyers or advertisements. If you plan a randomized study, how will you randomize the participants (coin toss/computer program)?
Plan for Data Collection: describe the how, when, and where of data collection. Be sure to include that you will first obtain IRB approval and how you will obtain informed consent—include the venue where you would conduct the study.
Data Collection Tools/Measures:

If you decide to use a tool (questionnaire or instrument) from a study you read, include the number of items (or questions) the tool has, who created the tool, and reliability and validity of the tool. A copy of the tool should be added as an appendix to the paper. If the reliability and validity of the tool is not available in the literature, this would be a limitation.
 If you plan to develop your own data collection tool, a copy must be provided as an appendix. Be sure to describe how your methodology speaks to reliability and validity and how the tool you develop ensures accurate measurement of the variable. For example, if you plan to examine the number of hours someone walks per week, how will you document that to ensure consistency among participants? If you plan to develop a table for data entry, that must also be included as an appendix. All appendices are placed behind the references.
If using physiologic measures, describe how you will ensure consistency in data collection among all participants.
After receiving feedback on this assignment, you will be able to incorporate the sections of this paper into your final Bare Bones Proposal assignment. See the attached grading rubric below.

Methodology Assignment

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of implementing a nurse educational program on rates of CAUTIs among adult patients who have undergone colorectal surgery. A nurse educational program is the independent variable and CAUTI rate is the dependent variable. The intended population is a team of operating room nurses who are working with adult colorectal surgery patients.

Methodology

Research Design

Type of Design

A quasi-experimental study will be conducted to examine the effects of a nurse educational program on rates of CAUTIs among adult patients who have undergone colorectal surgery. A quasi-experimental research design is a type of design that almost resembles an experimental research design but the independent variable is manipulated (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2019). It is the most appropriate design for studies that are aimed at establishing a cause-and-effect relationship among variables but where participants cannot be selected at random, the intervention cannot be assigned randomly to study participants, and a control group cannot be created to help monitor the impacts of the intervention (LoBiondo-Wood & Haber, 2019). The chosen research design is appropriate for the proposed study because the study entails the implementation of an educational program for a group of nurses to establish its effects on the rates of CAUTIs among adult colorectal surgery patients.

Control for Extraneous Variables

The principal investigator will put in place appropriate measures to control extraneous variables. Cobzaru et al. (2021) define an extraneous variable as that type of variable that is not being investigated but that which might have an effect on the dependent variable. The extraneous variables in the proposed study include noise within the environment where the study will be conducted and the participants’ awareness of the intended goal of the study. For instance, noise within the study environment might prevent nurses from understanding the concepts being taught. As a result, there would be no difference in patient outcomes before and after the implementation of the educational program. Additionally, nurses might care for patients differently even without acquiring new knowledge from the training program when they learn about the goal of the planned study in advance (Cobzaru et al., 2021). The investigator will control for these extraneous variables by implementing the educational intervention in a quiet room and by using external trainers to make it appear like nurses are receiving normal training.

Sampling Plan

Type of Sampling Plan

The specific sampling plan that will be used for the study is convenience sampling. Andrade (2021) defines convenience sampling as the type of non-probability sampling plan where the researcher utilizes the sample that is conveniently available. Convenience sampling is appropriate for the study because the study will use operating room nurses who are working with adult colorectal surgery patients. These nurses are conveniently accessible in the practice setting.

Target Population

The target population for the study is a team of operating room nurses who are working with adult colorectal surgery patients. Since the investigator will use a convenience sampling technique, all nurses who will be on duty at the time of the study will be included in the sample. The use of the convenience sampling technique in the recruitment of nurses will enable the investigator to eliminate bias and increase internal validity, especially when the data is collected appropriately (Andrade, 2021). Additionally, in order to control for extraneous variables, the investigator will implement the educational intervention in a quiet room and use external trainers to make it appear like nurses are receiving normal training.

Method for Selection of Sample

The sample will be obtained from the duty roster of the facility. The roster will be reviewed to identify nurses who meet the inclusion criteria. Only those who meet the set criteria will be included in the study. Nurses deployed in the operating room to provide care to adult colorectal surgery patients will be sampled for training.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be used to recruit the right participants for the study. The three inclusion criteria that will be used include; operating room nurses, must be caring for adult colorectal surgery patients, and must have worked at the facility for at least 6 months by the start of the study. The exclusion criteria will include; nurses not deployed in the operating room, operating room nurses who are not providing care to adult colorectal surgery patients, and nurses who have stayed in the facility for less than 6 months by the start of the study.

Data Collection Procedures

Process for IRB Approval and Informed Consent

The study will begin by obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This is important because the study will utilize human subjects whose rights must be protected throughout the study. Informed consent will be obtained from participants who meet the inclusion criteria. Operating room nurses who meet the inclusion criteria will be required to read and sign a form that describes details of the planned study, including its associated risks and benefits.

Intervention

The intervention, which also acts as the independent variable, will be a nurse education program. The intervention will be administered during the second phase of the study. Nurses who meet the inclusion criteria will be offered an educational program explaining the best practice protocols to maintain quality care and safety of post-surgery patients. They will also be taught how to identify and manage risk factors for CAUTIs.

Procedure for Data Collection

The current place of work will be the venue for the study. The study will be conducted for a period of 6 weeks. It will be divided into 3 phases comprising of 2 weeks each. The three phases include a pre-test, an intervention phase, and a post-test phase. Data related to rates of CAUTIs will be collected in each phase from the electronic health records. During the pre-test, the project team will record rates of CAUTIs among adult colorectal surgery patients without administering the intervention. In phase two, the team will implement a nurse educational program while also recording changes in CAUTI rates. In the third and last phase or post-test, rates of CAUTIs will be recorded and no intervention will be implemented. The rationale for the post-test is to assess changes in CAUTI rates after the implementation of a nurse educational program. Data from the charts will be accessed with the help of the nurse manager.

Measurement of Variables and Outcomes

The study will measure one primary outcome variable. The primary outcome variable will be CAUTI rates among colorectal surgery patients. It is anticipated that rates of CAUTIs at the facility will reduce following the implementation of the nurse educational program.

Measures or Data Collection Tools

Data Collection Tool

Changes in CAUTI rates will be recorded in a computer as part of the facility’s electronic health records. The specific data to be collected will include; the total number of adult colorectal surgery patients at the time of study (N), the number of episodes of CAUTIs during the three phases of the study, and the mean incidence rates of CAUTIs during the pre-test, intervention phase, and post-test. The investigator will also collect data related to the patient’s age, gender, time of hospitalization, and presence or absence of comorbidities. In order to establish whether patients have developed CAUTIs or not, the investigator will perform a Urine Re and CS test (a urine routine examination and urine culture sensitivity test) (Morado & Wong, 2022). Changes in rates of CAUTIs will be evaluated using the criteria recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). These criteria have been adequately tested and thus will give reliable, valid, and consistent data.

Reliability, Validity, and Ensuring Consistency

The Urine Re and CS test is a highly valid are reliable exam for determining rates of CAUTIs in at-risk patients. The test combines urinalysis and urine culture to detect urine components and pathogens that are used to confirm the presence of urinary tract infections in patients with indwelling catheters. The Urine Re and CS test is reliable in that it provides accurate and consistent results across patients. The validity of the test is confirmed by its ability to provide acceptable results that adequately match the outcomes that are being measured (Morado & Wong, 2022). The investigator will work with the same participants and implement the intervention under similar conditions throughout the study period to ensure consistency in data collection among all participants. Table 1 shows the data collection sheet that will be used to record changes in CAUTI rates.

Table 1: Data Collection Sheet

The total number of adult colorectal surgery patients at the time of sdtudy (N=?)

References

Andrade C. (2021). The inconvenient truth about convenience and purposive samples. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 43(1), 86–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620977000

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/cauti/index.html

Cobzaru, R., Jiang, S., Ng, K., Finkelstein, S., Welsch, R., & Shahn, Z. (2021, n.d.). State of the art causal inference in the presence of extraneous covariates: A simulation study. American Medical Informatics Association Annual Symposium Proceedings, 1(1), 334–342.

LoBiondo-Wood, G. & Haber, J. (2019). Nursing research: methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice. Mosby.

Morado, F., & Wong, D. W. (2022). Applying diagnostic stewardship to proactively optimize the management of urinary tract infections. Antibiotics, 11(3), 308. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11030308.