QUALITATIVE RESEARCH CRITIQUE

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH CRITIQUE

The use of adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence to assess the efficacy of a modified cleaning program implemented within an intensive care setting – (Moore et al., 2010).

This paper aims to critically appraise qualitative research conducted by (Moore et al., 2010) exploring the application of adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence in assessing the efficacy of modified cleaning program. Much focus is on the writing style, purpose of the research, aims/ objectives, sample, ethical consideration as well as the data analysis.

The report is well written as well as concise. The authors begin by giving the reader a good background of the topic. They take the reader through the importance of hospital cleanliness and how to ensure the efficiency of the cleaning processes. The authors also use excellent grammar that fits the field of scientific research. The language can easily be understood by those with scientific knowledge as well as those without. The authors have organized the article very well that it is straightforward to follow through as a reader. They have crafted a strong opening sentence, and according to Hargrave (2015), a strong opening sentence opens readers’ head and grab their attention. In this case, the reader can easily tell that the article is about hospital cleanliness as well as the main challenge associated with compromised cleanliness.

Ginny Moore, among other authors, wrote the article. Moore has a PhD as well as a lot of experience from the Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, Environmental Laboratory as well as University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Moore et al., 2010). In this case, Moore has a rich background in medical research hence a high degree of knowledge in the field. Collaboration with other authors further improves the quality of the article (Iglič et al., 2017).

Although the article’s title is accurate as well as precise, it is too long. A good title ought to be between ten and fifteen words (Tullu, 2019). Although I find the title accurate and precise, it is straightforward for other people to get confused as well as mislead by a very long title. Although the article’s abstract provides a succinct overview of the article, it lacks some crucial elements such as recommendations, sample size, as well as the selection criteria. However, it is very easy for the reader to decide to read the article after reading the abstract as it is concise.

It is easy to tell that the research is on how adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence can be used in gauging the efficiency of the modified cleaning program within an intensive care setting. The last paragraph of the introduction reiterates the purpose of the paper, which is using ATP bioluminescence to evaluate the efficacy of a modified cleaning regimen. The report also follows all the steps of the research process in a rational manner. The use of such a procedure in writing a scientific report gives a better chance of obtaining the best information (Djeljosevic, 2020). It is also good to note that all these steps flow naturally.

The literature review on the topic is rationally organized. Literature review in a scientific journal should be rationally organized around the findings of the various materials used (O’Brien, 2020). The authors begin with the documentation of visual assessment of surface cleanliness, the dismal correlation between results procured using traditional microbiologic surface sampling techniques, and using ATP bioluminescence. Although the authors give a balanced critical analysis of the literature, there is no clear boundary between the introduction and the literature review. Considering that the research was done in 2010, it is okay to conclude that the majority of the literature of recent origin since most of the articles used are within five years of publication. The authors have successfully put the topic being researched into context by using both contemporary and historical material. They have also used a theoretical framework to guide the research. They build their study on the theory by utilizing empirical observation in the two concepts. Since the study is experimental, the framework is developed better. Although the framework is not adequately described, it is very accurate and cannot elope from the readers’ eyes.

The aims, as well as the objectives of the study, have been identified. The aim is to use ATP bioluminescence in assessing the effectuality of a modified cleaning regimen. The objective of the study is to establish whether using ATP bioluminescence can ameliorate the management of hospital cleaning. The aims, as well as the objectives, should be used to establish a link between the purpose of the research and how the research will be carried out (Thomas & Hodges, 2010).

The target population has been identified. The authors conducted the study within the general medical ICU of 2 central London teaching hospitals. There are no clear criteria given on how the authors settled on the two hospitals, but it is very likely that they selected the hospitals on the virtue of their big size and that they were teaching hospitals. There was no defined method used in selecting the samples. Nurses were tasked with cleaning the bed area as well as the associated equipment once a shift. The authors have also not clearly defined the inclusion/ exclusion criteria or ethical consideration. The four moral principles guiding scientific research have not been mentioned. The probable reason why the authors never concentrated on ethical consideration is that the research was not based on human subjects but rather, hospital equipment as well as near-patient equipment. The authors have, however, clarified well on the operational terms. They have made a deliberate effort to define the scientific concepts clearly, theories as well term. Some of the terms are Intensive care units (ICU), ultra microfiber (UMF), Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as well as Relative Light Units (RLU). The authors have not identified the research design. However, the data gathering instrument has been described.

A sampling method was used to collect the data. This method of data collection is suitable when one is not in a position to collect data from all classes (Taherdoost, 2016). For every week, ten surfaces were selected from the randomly identified area and sampled through Clean-Trace Surface ATP swabs both within and before ten minutes of the modified clean completed. All the collected swabs were activated and positioned in a Clean-Trace NG Luminometer, and the readings recorded (Moore et al., 2010). The instrument used in the data gathering is very appropriate as it is based on the ATP scores. The ATP scores are, in turn, used to evaluate the effectuality of the cleaning regimen. However, the authors do not elaborate on how the instrument was developed or how they tested its validity and reliability. The authors also did not indicate whether or not they subjected the instrument to validity and reliability test.

The type of data collected was based on the out-turn of biocide on the ATP bioluminescent light signal. The data analysis, on the other hand, was based on the (mean RLU value attained from control [water] assay two mean RLU value attained from test [CuWB50] assay)/mean RLU value procured from control assay) × 100 formula (Moore et al., 2010). The data analysis, as well as the results, were appropriate. The authors, however, do not indicate the number of the sample that participated in the study. Although there was no indication of the sample, the findings were significant as they confirmed that using ATP bioluminescence improves hospital cleaning (Amodio and Dino, 2014).

The literature review is based on the visual assessment of surface cleanliness as well as the dismal correlation between results procured using traditional microbiologic surface sampling techniques and using ATP bioluminescence. Since the findings confirmed that using ATP bioluminescence improves hospital cleaning the findings, therefore, support the literature review. Since the hypothesis was not clearly defined, it is not possible to tell whether it was supported. One of the strengths of the study is that the study supports Lewi et al. ‘s findings. The study also suggests that a 250 RLU score is achievable as well as an appropriate ATP benchmark within an ICU (Willis et al., 2017). However, the study’s weakness is that there is no guarantee to have an appropriate target value for all hospital environments. The authors also did not make a recommendation for further study. On the reference side, all the journals, books as well as other media alluded to in the study were faultlessly referenced.

In Summary, the report is well written and concise. The grammar used is also excellent. It fits the field of scientific research perfectly. However, the authors us a very long title, and according to Tullu (2019), a good title ought to be between ten and fifteen words. The study meets the objectives by affirming that using ATP bioluminescence in improving the management of hospital cleaning is effective compared with other conventional procedures routinely carried out by the nurses.