course material

1. answers to peers
one answer to each discussion. discussion 1Review the following research questions.Is the
use of soap and water or alcohol-based rubs more effective in preventing nosocomial
infections?Identify an appropriate research design.An appropriate research design for this
research question is quantitative research with an experimental design.Discuss the
strengths and weaknesses of the design.According to Roger Watson (2015), quantitative
studies produce numbers that should be interpreted before conclusions may be drawn. This
can be considered a strength for this design as numbers allows the researcher to draw
conclusion easily. An area of weakness is the idea that the opportunity for error cannot be
eliminated entirely. According to Watson (2015) “it is essential to store data carefully, once
it has been entered into any package, since loss can jeopardize the study”.Provide a
rationale for the design you selectedThis design allows the research to manipulate the
independent variable in order to study the effect it has on the dependent variable. In this
case, the researcher is able to identify the effect of soap and water on the prevention of
nosocomial infections and the effect is alcohol-based rubs on the prevention if nosocomial
infections. The number of occurrences will be compared to draw a conclusionHow effective
are anti-depressive medications on anxiety and depression?Identify an appropriate
research design.An appropriate research design for this research question is qualitative
design.Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the design.According to Leslie Gelling
(2014), while utilizing qualitative research, nurses to understand health and illness
experiences and offer ‘compassionate, person-centered care. This is considered to be a
strength for this design. Gelling also stated that “a poorly worded question might lead the
research in the wrong direction, wasting the researcher’s time and, more importantly,
wasting the research participants’ time if the chosen methodology is unable to answer the
question (Gelling, 2014). This is the weakness of this design.Provide a rationale for the
design you selectedQualitative research is an approach to scientific inquiry that allows
researchers to explore human experiences in personal and social contexts, and gain greater
understanding of the factors influencing these experiences.What is the difference in
attitudes of male and female college students toward condoms?Identify an appropriate
research design.An appropriate research design for this research question is a qualitative
descriptive design. In a descriptive study without manipulating any variables.Discuss the
strengths and weaknesses of the design.According to Pathak, Jena, and Kalra (2013),
qualitative research is now recognized for its ability to add a new dimension to
interventional studies that cannot be obtained through measurement of variables alone.

2. This can be considered to be a strength of this design. Qualitative studies should be well-
designed and the aims of the study should be meticulously adjudicated (Pathak, Jena, &
Kalra, 2013). On the other hand, descriptive research also presents the possibility for error
and subjectivity. Confidentiality is the primary weakness of descriptive research (Murphy,
n.d.). Often subjects are not truthful as they feel the need to tell the researcher what they
think the researcher wants to hear (Murphy, n.d.).Provide a rationale for the design you
selectedQualitative method is used to understand people’s beliefs, experiences, attitudes,
behavior, and interactions.ReferencesGelling, L. (2015). Qualitative research. Nursing
Standard, 29(30), 43. Retrieved from
http://dx.doi.org.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu/10.7748/ns.29.30.43.e9749Murphy, J.
(n.d.). Strengths and weaknesses of descriptive research. Retrieved from,
http://classroom.synonym.com/strengths-weaknesses-descriptive-research-
2596.htmlPathak, V., Jena, B., & Kalra, S. (2013). Qualitative research. Perspectives in
Clinical Research, 4(3), 192. Retrieved from http://doi.org/10.4103/2229-
3485.115389Watson, R. (2015). Quantitative research. Nursing Standard, 29(31), 44.
Retrieved from
http://dx.doi.org.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu/10.7748/ns.29.31.44.e8681 discussio
n 2Use of Soap and Water Versus Alcohol-Based Rubs to Prevent Nosocomial InfectionsThe
study chosen for this topic researched the effects of waterless hand rubs versus the
traditional hand scrubbing method to prevent infections in surgical rooms. One hundred
operating room staff members from different medical centers were divided into two groups
of fifty participants (Chen, Han, Kan, Chen & Hung, 2012). One group used waterless hand
rubs and the other group of workers used traditional hand washing techniques as part of
the scrubbing process for surgeries. The hands of the participants were scrubbed and a
bacterial culture was done on the two groups of participants (Chen et al., 2012). After a
forty-eight hour period of bacterial growth of both samples, the results demonstrated
bacteria growth was equal among the two groups (Chen et al., 2012). There were no
statistical significance found. The study concluded that alcohol-based rubs and water
provide the same level of protection among operating room staff (Chen et al.,
2012). Strengths and WeaknessesOne of the strengths of the study was the method of
conducting the study was the same among the two participant groups (Chen et al.,
2012). The time the participants took in applying the alcohol-based rub and washing hands
were the same. The weakness of the study was the participant sample was rather small
(Chen et al., 2012). A larger study conducted at different facilities provides better evidence
of the findings. Also, a study with a larger sample population may have also resulted in
different findings (Chen et al., 2012).Rationale for the DesignThe study selected is a
quantitative research that attempted to estimate the required scrubbing times using
alcohol-based scrubs and traditional handwashing technique for operating room staff (Chen
et al., 2012). Also the study focused on comparing the use of alcohol-based hand rubs
versus the traditional handwashing techniques in prevention of nosocomial infections in the
operating room (Chen et al., 2012).Relationship Between Alcohol and Breast CancerThe
article reviewed focused on possible pathways of alcohol into the breast tissue and possible
consequences. The study also reviewed the women’s age in relations to drinking habits, in

3. an attempt to identify a possible connection between early alcohol consumption among
women and breast cancer (Liu, Nguyen, & Colditz, 2015). The study concluded that
moderate alcohol consumption is associated with higher risk of breast cancer (Liu, Nguyen,
& Colditz, 2015).Strengths and WeaknessesA strength of the study is there was significant
evidence to suggest that the risk of cancer increases by thirty-four percent for those women
who had an alcohol intake greater than fifteen drinks per day (Liu, Nguyen, & Colditz,
2015). A weakness identified in the study was that other lifestyle components that may
increase the risk of breast cancer were not taken into consideration when conducting the
study (Liu, Nguyen, & Colditz, 2015).Rationale for the DesignThis research was focused on
the possible influence of timing and patterns of alcohol consumption and the possible
mechanisms underlying alcohol and breast cancer association. The possible pathways of
alcohol into the breast tissue were studied (Liu, Nguyen, & Colditz, 2015). The women’s age
in relation to drinking habits for possible connection between early alcohol consumption in
women and breast cancer were also studied (Liu, Nguyen, & Colditz, 2015).Difference in
Attitudes Between Male and Female Students Towards CondomsFemale and male
participants from a treatment-seeking substance abuse treatment program were studied in
relations to their attitudes and skills towards the use of condoms. The study found that men
found more barriers to using condoms than women (Calsyn, Peavy, Wells, Campbell, Hatch-
Maillette, Greenfield & Tross, 2013). The study used electronic interviews for assessment of
skills and attitude towards the use of condom (Calsyn et al., 2013).Strengths and
WeaknessesA strength of the study was the participants researched were at high risk for
unprotected sex practice (Calsyn et al., 2013). A limitation found in the study was that the
information was taken from two different studies that were not designed to compare men
and women (Calsyn et al., 2013). Another limitation of the study was the participants
studied were a selected population from a drug abuse treatment program, which may or
may have not influenced the findings (Calsyn et al., 2013).Rationale for the DesignThe
reason for the study was to examine the differences between males and females in
relationship to condom use; the attitude towards the practice of wearing condom and the
skills among both groups (Calsyn et al., 2013). ReferencesCalsyn, D. A., Peavy, K. M., Wells, E.
A., Campbell, A. N. C., Hatch-Maillette, M. A., Greenfield, S. F., & Tross, S. (2013). Differences
between men and women in condom use, attitudes, and skills in substance abuse treatment
seekers. The American Journal on Addictions / American Academy of Psychiatrists in
Alcoholism and Addictions, 22(2), 150–157. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1521-
0391.2013.00312.xChen, C., Han, C., Kan, C., Chen, S., & Hung, P. W. (2012). Effect of surgical
site infections with waterless and traditional hand scrubbing protocols on bacterial growth.
American Journal of Infection Control, 40(4), e15. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2011.09.008Liu, Y.,
Nguyen, N., & Colditz, G. A. (2015). Links between alcohol consumption and breast cancer: A
look at the evidence. Women’s Health (London, England), 11(1), 65­77.
doi:10.2217/whe.14.62discussion questionReview the following research questions.Is the
use of soap and water or alcohol-based rubs more effective in preventing nosocomial
infections?How effective are anti-depressive medications on anxiety and depression?For
patients of 70 years and older, how effective is the use of the influenza vaccine at preventing
flu as compared to patients who have not received the vaccine?What is the relationship

4. between alcohol and breast cancer?What is the difference between self-efficacy scores in
older adults who exercise and the scores of those who do not?What is the difference in
attitudes of male and female college students toward condoms?Next, select 3 of the above
questions and address the following:Identify an appropriate research design.Discuss the
strengths and weaknesses of the design.Provide a rationale for the design you selected