1

Research Paper on Health Practice

Introduction
The conducted research analyzes and critically evaluates the article A cross-industry
comparison of customer satisfaction, by Ronald Gilbert and Cleopatra eloutsou !"##$%& 't
provides description of the appraisal tool, the appraisal process and its summary of its
implications( develops alternative desi)n of the e*plored research&
Tool Selection
This paper +as aimed to identify measures of service satisfaction that can be used across
industries& Therefore, the data +as collected from ratin)s of 1#,,-. respondents, /0A residents&
'n order to critically appraise the research, the follo+in) tool +as selected1 2c2aster Critical
Revie+ 3orm for 4uantitative studies !5a+ et al& 166,%& The form can be found in the Appendi*
A& 't +as ta7en from this +ebsite1 http188+++&unisa&edu&au8cahe8Resources8CAT8default&asp&This
tool +as chosen because it can help to distill the actual results and evaluate them in simple and
9uic7 manner& The tool has fifteen 9uestions included that provide the overall picture after the
appraisal is completed& 't is easy to use and simple to understand&
Completed Appraisal Tool
Study purpose:
:as the purpose stated clearly; <es8=o > yes
?utline the purpose of the study& @o+ does the study apply to occupational therapy
and8or your research 9uestion;
The research 9uestion +as as follo+s1 to e*plore the clusterin) patterns of si* health ris7
behaviours amon) Australian adults& !3rench, Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#-%& The )oal
+as to determine the connection bet+een health condition of Australian adults and the +ay they
"
treat unhealthy occupations such as smo7in), drin7in), etc& 'n addition, the obCective +as to
evaluate the level of ris7 and distill the most common ris7y health behaviors&
Literature:
:as relevant bac7)round literature revie+ed; <es8=o > no
Describe the Custification of the need for this study&
The need for the study +as Custified rather unclear due to the absence of obvious
references to health issues& 3or e*ample, it refers to some literature and other studies !% that
e*plored such issues in the past in order to describe the methodolo)y used in those studies and
outline inconsistences of fla+s !3rench, Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#E%&
Design:
Randomized !RCT%, cohort, sin)le case desi)n, before and after, case-control, cross-
sectional, case study > before and after&
Describe the study desi)n& :as the desi)n appropriate for the study 9uestion; !e&)&, for
7no+led)e level about this issue, outcomes, ethical issues, etc&%
The desi)n of the research +as based on the community-based surveys that +ere used to
e*plore the relationships bet+een variety of health ris7 behaviors !3rench, Rosenber), A
Bnuiman "##,, p& "#-%& The desi)n +as appropriate considerin) the outcomes&
0pecify any biases that may have been operatin) and the direction of their influence on
the results&
Any communication process presupposes some level of bias so surveyin) process is
biased itself from the be)innin)& @o+ever, it should not have influenced the overall results since
there +ere four surveys +ithin ten years !3rench, Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#-%&
Sample:
-
= F ,,$$, residents
:as the sample described in detail; <es8=o > yes
0amplin) !+ho( characteristics( ho+ many( ho+ +as samplin) done;% 'f more than one
)roup, +as there similarity bet+een the )roups;
The sample +as divided into t+o )roups considerin) se*( seven )roups considerin) the
a)e, three )roups considerin) the residence( and si* )roups considerin) the household income&
There +ere no similarities bet+een the )roups to obtain the most comprehensive results, usin)
the sample !3rench, Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#.%&
:as sample size Custified; <es8=o8 =8A > no
Describe ethics procedures& :as informed consent obtained;
Geople +ere as7ed to ans+er survey 9uestions, notifyin) them re)ardin) the )oal of the
survey& ?f course, the informed consent +as obtained since it +as survey that had rather specific
health-related 9uestions !3rench, Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#E%&
Outcomes:
:ere the outcome measures reliable; <es8=o8=ot addressed > yes
0pecify the fre9uency of outcome measurement !i&e&, pre, post, follo+-up%
The measurement of the results +as conducted after the surveysH endin) !post% !3rench,
Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#E%&
:ere the outcome measures valid; <es8=o8=ot addressed > yes
?utcome areas !e&)&, self-care, productivity, leisure% and list of measures used
There +ere used four main outcome areas !clusters%1 0afe, t+o Ris7y, and one
2oderate !3rench, Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#-%& The follo+in) measures +ere used1
E
0mo7er, /nsafe drin7er, 5o+ fruit consumption, 5o+ ve)etable consumption, 'nade9uate
physical activity, and Goor sun protection !3rench, Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#E-"#.%&
Intervention:
'ntervention +as described in detail; <es8=o8=ot addressed > not addressed
Contamination +as avoided; <es8=o8=ot addressed8 =8A > not addressed
Cointervention +as avoided; <es8=o8=ot addressed8 =8A > not addressed
Grovide a short description of the intervention !focus, +ho delivered it, ho+ often,
settin)%& Could the intervention be replicated in occupational therapy practice;
0urveys +ere conducted in :estern Australia, usin) face-to-face communication and
telephones !3rench, Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#E%& 't can be replicated anytime and
any+here if there is such a need&
Results:
Results +ere reported in terms of statistical si)nificance; <es8=o8 =8A 8=ot addressed -
yes
:ere the analysis method!s% appropriate; <es8=o8=ot addressed - yes
:hat +ere the results; :ere they statistically si)nificant !i&e&, p I #&#.%; 'f not
statistically si)nificant, +as study bi) enou)h to sho+ an important difference if it should occur;
'f there +ere multiple outcomes, +as that ta7en into account for the statistical analysis;
The results +ere as follo+s1 ,,$$, residents of the +estern part of Australia of a)es
bet+een 1$ and $6 +ere included in this research& The evaluation factors of health ris7 behavior
+ere as follo+s1 se*, a)e, place of residence and total annual household income& The adCustments
for a)e and se* have been made in case of prevalence of health ris7 behaviors by household
income and place of residence !3rench, Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#.-"#$%&
.
'n the span of four years survey it has been discovered that $6 percent or more than t+o-
thirds of the sample sho+ed unhealthy behaviors for at least three out of si* behaviors that +ere
under assessment& -&$J of the assessed people partoo7 in health protectin) behaviors across of
all si* measures !3rench, Rosenber), A Bnuiman "##,, p& "#.-"#$%& The evaluation of mean and
standard deviation of the number of ris7y for health behaviors from individuals in each
demo)raphic )roup has also been conducted& The mean number of behaviors that posed ris7 for
health for the total sample of respondents +as "&."K1&E-& Different demo)raphic )roups sho+
different mean number of health ris7 behaviors&
Comparison has been made bet+een males and females and the former +ere more li7ely
to e*hibit ris7 behaviors !"&,1K1&E# vs "&"EK1&E#%& Respondents of youn) a)e )roup sho+ more
ris7 behaviors than older people of $#-$6 years of a)e !"&#$K1&-$ vs "&6.K1&E# for "#-"E year
olds%& The avera)e number of ris7 behaviors of the rural residents +as "&E.K1&E- as opposed to
"&.LK1&-6 e*hibited by metropolitan residents& :ith the adCustment for a)e and se* a similar
mean number of ris7 behaviors for all income )roups could be seen !3rench, Rosenber), A
Bnuiman "##,, p& "#.-"#$( /ar7&lib)uides&com "#1"%&
't has been noted that the lo+est income )roups +ere prone to smo7in) and havin) bad
sun protection if compared +ith other income )roups and at the same time people of the )roup
+ith the hi)hest income +ere most li7ely to consume a lot of alcohol and eat less ve)etables& 'n
order to find if the respondents could be )rouped by similarities in their ris7 behaviors the cluster
analyses +ere conducted !/ar7&lib)uides&com "#1"%& The most meanin)ful and suitable four
cluster model of analysis +as used after a thorou)h consideration of the bet+een-cluster and
+ithin cluster variance of cluster models from t+o to si* solutions !3rench, Rosenber), A
Bnuiman "##,, p& "#.-"#$%&
$
The health behavior characteristics of the four clusters +ere ta7en into consideration,
besides each cluster +as )iven a title in order to reflect its distin)uishin) characteristics that +ere
bad or ris7y for health& 'f a )reater part of the respondents in the cluster sho+ed ris7y behavior as
in comparison to the total sample then the clusters +ere classified as McharacteristicH of e*hibitin)
a particular health ris7 behavior& 't +ould be lo)ical to assume that clusters characteristic of
e*hibitin) safe behavior +ere named so +hen less members of the cluster e*hibited the ris7
behavior in comparison to the total sample&
They +ere statistically si)nificant due to the size of the sample and more to say, the
period of the research& There +ere multiply outcomes ho+ever, only the most statistically
si)nificant and relevant to the ris7y behaviors +ere ta7en into account& As for the analysis
methods, they +ere appropriate considerin) the amount of the obtained data& The researchers
used the 7-means cluster procedure !0G00 ersion 11&. for :indo+s% !3rench, Rosenber), A
Bnuiman "##,, p& "#E% to classify and )roup the respondents& 'n addition, the health behavior
variables +ere standardized in order to avoid influence on the clusterin) process&
Clinical importance +as reported; <es8=o8=ot addressed > not addressed
:hat +as the clinical importance of the results; :ere differences bet+een )roups
clinically meanin)ful; !if applicable%
Drop-outs +ere reported; <es8=o > no
Did any participants drop out from the study; :hy; !:ere reasons )iven and +ere drop-
outs handled appropriately;%
Summary of the Implications of the Appraised Paper
The conducted study +as aimed to analyze the situation amon) Australian adult
population re)ardin) the connection of health issues +ith ris7y behaviors& 't +as conducted on
L
hi)h level and provided useful results& @o+ever, the research lac7s of the appropriate literature
revie+ part as it is one of the most important parts in such researches !:ritin)&colostate&edu
"#1#( 5ie "###%&
?n the other hand, the approach used by the researchers )ave the necessary results > four
surveys +ithin ten years provided utterly important data that allo+ed assessin) the issues in this
area& 3urther research is needed, ho+ever, due to the need in deeper analysis of more indicators
that should be implemented in the ne*t researches !5ie "###( /ar7&lib)uides&com "#1"%&
Alternative Design
A )ood research usually e*ploits either 9ualitative or 9uantitative methods !or both% in
order to complete the obCectives& 't is important to 7no+ +hat types of research 9uestion e*ist
and ho+ they can be composed to be as efficient as possible& Thus, 9ualifyin) 9uestions are
re)ularly used in the introducin) part of 9uantitative research& 0uch type of 9uestions ma7es
sure, for e*ample, that an or)anization spea7s to, or reaches the ri)ht tar)et audience&
As the e*ample, a small chain of restaurants can as7 a respondent1 @ave you eaten at the
ANC Restaurant in the past -# to 6# days; 'n case the respondent )ives ne)ative reply, there is
no )ood from as7in) him8her to ans+er 9uestions in this survey& 't means that only those +ho say
yes +ould be able to )ive the ans+ers to the 9uestions related to the restaurantHs food services
and food 9uality !Cress+ell "##L( :ritin)&colostate&edu "#1#%&
Another type of 9uestions is attitude and opinion 9uestions& 3or e*ample, a company has
interest in hearin) about the customerHs opinion re)ardin) its products, the level of customer
service, price ta)s, sales reps and advertisin)& 't means that the 9uestions of this type usually
have a)reed or disa)ree response !Cres+ell A Glano Clar7 "##,( :ritin)&colostate&edu "#1#%&
@ere is the e*ample of an attitude 9uestion1 Glease describe +hether you a)ree or disa)ree +ith
,
the follo+in) statement1 ' li7ed the features that your products offer& As it can be noticed, the
respondent is able to respond positively or ne)atively to one or more statements in the survey
!Cress+ell "##L%&
3inally, ratin) 9uestions are usually used in 9uantitative research in order to evaluate the
level of consumersH li7e or disli7e of the products or8and services& Thus, a manufacturer of paper
to+els can as7 consumers to provide the rate of the paper to+els durability in use&
Nelo+ is the set of instruction that can be used to +rite )ood 9ualitative research
9uestions !for mass communication, as the e*ample% !5ie "###%& Thus, first of all it is necessary
to specify a )ood research problem > it +ill be the practical issue leadin) to the particular needs
of the study& 's it appropriate to complete the follo+in) sentences in order to provide a )ood
research problem specification1 The topic for this study +ill beO, This study needs to be
conducted becauseO, and others !Cress+ell "##L%&
Then, it is important to +rite a )ood 9ualitative purpose statement& This statement )ives
the main obCective or intent !or roadmap% to the study !Cres+ell A Glano Clar7 "##,%& 't has to
follo+ these criteria1 it should be of a sin)le sentence( it must include the study purpose( it needs
to have the central phenomenon and use such 9ualitative +ords as e*plore, understand,
discover, etc&( in addition, it should note the participants if any are available and state the site
of the research !Cress+ell "##L%&
The follo+in) research 9uestions can be used to narro+ the purpose& They are of t+o
types1 central and the most )eneral 9uestions that can be as7ed& 'n addition can be used sub-
9uestions that subdivide central 9uestion into more particular topical 9uestions !Cres+ell A
Glano Clar7 "##,%&
6
4ualitative 9uestions have limited number and can use these )ood 9ualitative +ordin) for
the 9uestions1 such +ords as ho+ or +hat( tell the respondents about +hat is attempted to
discover, )enerate, e*plore, identify, or describe( try to as7 +hat happened; to help
craft the description( as7 +hat +as the meanin) to people of +hat happened; to understand the
results provided by the respondents( as7 +hat happened over time; in order to evaluate the
process !Cress+ell "##L( 5ie "###%& 'n addition it is important to avoid usin) such +ords as
relate, influence, impact, effect, cause, or similar&
1#
Appendi* A
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References
Cress+ell, P& :& "##L& 4ualitative in9uiry A research desi)n1 Choosin) amon) five approaches&
Thousand ?a7s1 0a)e Gublications&
Cres+ell, P& :&, A Glano Clar7, & "##,& Grinciples of 9ualitative research1 Desi)nin) a
9ualitative study& ?ffice of 4ualitative A 2i*ed 2ethods Research, /niversity of =ebras7a,
5incoln
Q*periment-resources&com "#1#& Defining a Research Problem& R?nlineS Available at1
Ihttp188+++&e*periment-resources&com8definin)-a-research-problem&htmlT RAccessed L 0ept
"#1"S&
3rench, 0&, Rosenber), 2& A Bnuiman, 2& "##,& The clusterin) of health ris7 behaviours in a
:estern Australian adult population, Health Promotion Journal of ustralia, vol& 16, no& -, pp&
"#--"#6&
5a+, 2&, 0te+art, D&, Golloc7, =&, 5etts, 5&, Nosch, P&, A :estmorland, 2& 166,& !c!aster
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mcmaster&ca8Gortals8"#8pdf8ebp89uanrevie+&pdfT RAccessed L 0ept "#1"S&
5ie, B& "###& 'riting the Literature Revie#& R?nlineS Available at1
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"#1"S&
/ar7&lib)uides&com "#1"& &ualitative or &uantitative( R?nlineS Available at1
Ihttp188uar7&lib)uides&com8content&php;pidF11#-L#AsidF1-,EL#-T
:ritin)&colostate&edu "#1#& )he &ualitative versus &uantitative Debate& R?nlineS Available at1
Ihttp188+ritin)&colostate&edu8)uides8research8)entrans8pop"f&cfmT RAccessed L 0ept "#1"S