1- The professor ask me also this question.Are you developing a survey or using one that is available? What would be some of the problems with using your own survey related to measurement?
2-Please make me a response to this peer post. Has to be no less than 150 words.
Rainel Leon posted Apr 5, 2019 12:09 PMSubscribe
Professor and class
Researchers use instruments as a measurement device and they can be categorized as researcher-completed and subject completed depending on who administered or completed respectively. Based on the research question, researchers select what instrument they are going to use.
Some researcher-completed instruments are rating scales, interviews, flowcharts, checklists, time and-motion logs, observation forms, etc. Some of the subject-completed instruments are questionnaires, attitude scales, personality inventories, achievement tests, sociometric devices, etc.
In my proposed research project I am going to use a the Readmission Rate , based on a relation between the total number of patients discharged home with the diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure and an inpatient admission for decompensating Cardiac Heart Failure within 30 days of the discharge .This number is going to be the numerator of the fraction. The denominator is going to be those all patients discharge from the hospital with the diagnosis of Cardiac Heart Failure and the number is going in the last three months. The denominator is going to be common for the two groups the experimental group and the control group.
All patients included in the investigation will be applied the LACE Index. The LACE Index is a tool to evaluate the Risk of readmission of a patient admitted in the hospital, and it is used as a predictor of readmissions. It consists of 4 parameters as described below:
Length of stay It will score 0,1,2,3,4,5,7 according to the days of stay: less than 1, 1, 2,3,4-6, 7-13, >=14 respectively.
Acuity if it was emergent admission it will score 3.
Comorbidities will be assessed by Charlson score .No comorbidities will score 0, 1 Comorbidity scores 1, 2 Comorbidities scores 2, 3 comorbidities scores 3, and more than 4 scores 5.
Emergency department visits on the last six months No visits 0, 1 visit scores 1, 2 visits scores 2, 3 visits scores 3, and 4 or more scores 4.According to the classification of the measurement tools this level of measurement is considered as ordinal.
The interpretation of the LACE Index is that if the Index scores is 0-3 there is a low risk of readmissions, if it is between 4 and 9 the risk is moderate , and if it is more than 9 the risk is high.
References
Gray, J., Grove, S., & Sutherland, S. (2017). Burns & Grove’s the practice of nursing
research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier. Retrieved from
Types of data & measurements scales: Nominal, ordinal, interval and ration. (2018).
Retrieved from
nominal-ordinal-interval-ratio/
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
When it comes to conducting research in the medical field, measurements play a crucial role in gathering data and analyzing outcomes. In this scenario, the professor poses a question regarding the use of a survey in research. Additionally, a peer has shared their research project and its proposed measurement tools. Let’s address each question separately.
1) Are you developing a survey or using one that is available? What would be some of the problems with using your own survey related to measurement?
Answer:
In this research project, the proposed measurement tools mentioned by the peer are the Readmission Rate and the LACE Index. It seems that the researcher is not developing a survey but rather using existing tools to collect data.
Using a pre-existing survey or measurement tool has its advantages, such as established reliability and validity. However, there are potential problems that may arise when using one’s own survey related to measurement. Here are a few of them:
a) Lack of reliability: Developing a reliable survey requires rigorous testing and refinement. If the researcher creates their own survey without proper statistical testing, the results may not be consistent or replicable.
b) Lack of validity: Validity refers to whether a survey accurately measures what it claims to measure. Developing a valid survey involves ensuring that the questions appropriately capture the construct of interest. Using one’s own survey without proper validation may result in measuring unintended factors or missing crucial aspects.
c) Bias and subjectivity: When creating a survey, it is easy to unintentionally introduce bias or subjectivity. This can impact the objectivity and generalizability of the results. Using established surveys ensures a standardized and unbiased approach to measurement.
d) Resource and time constraints: Designing and refining a survey requires significant resources and time. By using an existing survey, researchers can save time and utilize resources more efficiently.
In conclusion, while using one’s own survey may offer flexibility, it is essential to consider the potential problems related to measurement, such as reliability, validity, bias, and resource constraints. Depending on the research objectives and available resources, researchers must make an informed decision on whether to develop their own survey or utilize existing validated tools.
2) Response to Rainel Leon’s post:
Rainel Leon proposes using the Readmission Rate and the LACE Index as measurement tools in their research project focusing on Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patients. The LACE Index consists of four parameters: Length of stay, Acuity, Comorbidities, and Emergency department visits in the last six months.
The introduction of the LACE Index as a measurement tool in this research project appears to be appropriate for evaluating the risk of readmission in CHF patients. By considering factors such as length of stay, acuity, comorbidities, and emergency department visits, the LACE Index provides a comprehensive assessment of patients’ likelihood of readmission.
Furthermore, utilizing a standardized tool like the LACE Index enhances the reliability and validity of the measurements. As the project aims to evaluate readmission rates, using a validated tool ensures consistency and accuracy in measuring the risk of readmission. It also allows for easy comparison and analysis of data between different patient groups.
The classification of the LACE Index as an ordinal level of measurement aligns with its scoring system and the interpretation provided. This indicates that it allows for ranking and categorization of patients based on their readmission risk level.
Overall, Rainel Leon’s choice of utilizing the Readmission Rate and the LACE Index as measurement tools demonstrates a thoughtful approach to capturing and assessing the risk of readmission in CHF patients.
