Assignment task:
This study tested the relative effectiveness of alternative types of messages in encouraging the elderly to come forward for a flu vaccination. All members of a senior center in a middle-sized community (a total of 348 elderly men and women members) were sent a letter advising them that a flu epidemic was anticipated and that people older than 65 years were especially likely to benefit from an immunization. Half the members were sent a letter stressing the benefits of getting a flu shot (the benefit letter group). The other half were sent a letter stressing the potential dangers of not getting a flu shot (the danger letter group). To avoid any biases, a lottery-type system was used to determine which elders got which of the two letters. All study participants were told in the letters that free immunizations would be available at a community health clinic over a 1-week period and that free transportation would also be made available to them. Rates of coming forward for a flu shot among the two groups of elders were monitored to assess whether one approach of encouragement was more persuasive than the other. It was found that a higher percentage of elderly in the "benefit letter" group obtained a flu shot than was true for elders in the "danger letter" group.
Q1. Is this a qualitative or quantitative study? Relate this method to a specific paradigm by describing key methodological characteristics.
Q2. Select the underlying research purpose (Diagnosis and assessment, prognosis, etiology, description, meaning and process) of this study and describe how it is linked to Evidence Based Practice.
Q3. Discuss whether, and how, this study is consistent with a current priority area for nursing research. How might a nurse researcher apply this study to support EBP? Is this topic significant to advancing evidence-based practice in nursing?
Q4. Describe how evidence-based nursing research sources of information (primary, systematic, or meta analysis) can be applied to this topic with intentions to promote quality patient outcomes. How can a multidisciplinary interprofessional team approach benefit this type of research study?
Q5. Using the Polit Beck Evidence hierarchy/level of evidence scale, identify the rank the study would fall into and explain why.