ADHD Nursing Research Article Critique Example

Below is a nursing research article critique on the role of psychiatrists and physicians in primary care centers in managing adult patients with Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in the United States.

Research Article: Goodman, D. W., Surman, C. B., Scherer, P. B., Salinas, G. D., & Brown, J. J. (2012). Assessment of Physician Practices in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders. doi:10.4088/pcc.11m01312.

Review: Other Nursing Research Article Critiques

• Sample Nursing Research Article Critique on Opioid Treatment
• Nurse-to-Patient Ratios Research Article Critique Example

Nursing Research Article Critique: ADHD

1. What is the topic/focus of the article?

   The study aimed at evaluating the role of psychiatrists and physicians in primary care centers in managing adult patients with Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in the United States.

2. What is (are) the research question(s)?
   • What are the current practice patterns of psychiatrists and primary care doctors in the management of adult patients with ADHD in the United States?
   • What is the awareness level of adult ADHD prevalence among health care providers in primary care and psychiatry?
3. What is (are) the research hypothesis(es)?
   1. H1: there is no significant difference in the level of confidence in the diagnosis and treatment of adults with ADHD between psychiatrists and primary care physicians.
   2. H2: limited experience with diagnosis of ADHD is not a barrier in both primary care and psychiatry.
   3. H3: the level of awareness of the prevalence of adults with ADHD is the same for primary care physicians and psychiatrists.
   4. H4: no significant difference between psychiatrists and primary care physicians recognize comorbid substance use disorder.
4. How was the study conducted? What was the research/sampling design?

   The survey was the primary sampling design that was utilized in this study. Psychiatrists and primary care physicians were asked to complete an internet survey where the essential component of the survey that was used included the clinical case vignettes of adult patients. The respondents would answer fourteen questions relating to the case vignettes. The survey also had the confidence, barrier, and practice questions that were assessed by community-based doctors to ensure relevance and validity (Goodman, Surman, Scherer, Salinas, & Brown, 2012).

5. What are the key variables in this study? What is (are) the independent and dependent variables?
   • The independent variable in this research is the role of primary care psychiatrists and physicians
   • he dependent variable is the management of adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
6. What type(s) of data analysis/statistics was (were) used in the article?
   • The data were analyzed using PASW Statistics 18 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois).
   • Descriptive statistics such as averages, graphs, and percentages were used to summarize the responses and demographic characteristics.
   • Correlation between variables was tested by conducting t-tests and Chi-square tests.
7. What were the findings of this study? (Summarize the findings)
   • From the analyzed data, the research indicated that the level of confidence in diagnosing, treating, and managing adults with ADHD is lesser for primary care physicians as compared to psychiatrists with 8% and 28% respectively.
   • It was discovered that limited experience with the diagnosis of ADHD is a more barrier inadequate primary care than it does in psychiatry.
   • Further, the findings showed that psychiatrists are more aware of the prevalence of ADHD in adults than among primary care physicians. Besides, comorbid substance use disorder was recognized more by psychiatrists than primary care physicians.
   • The study revealed that the practice of health care providers differs in psychiatry and primary care (Goodman, Surman, Scherer, Salinas, & Brown, 2012).
8. Is there consistency between the research problem, the variables studied, and the findings? 
   • In this study, there is consistency between the research problem, the variables, and the results.
   • The research problem is the current practice patterns of health care providers in managing adult ADHD.
   • The studied variables were the roles of psychiatrist and primary care physicians in managing adults with ADHD, while the findings discuss the outcomes and comparisons of these variables.
9. Was the research question properly addressed and answered? (Why or why not)

   The research question was not adequately answered because it provided a mere comparison between physician practice by psychiatrists and primary care doctors without detailing the patterns.

10. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the methods used?
    • The strength of the method used in the study is that it provides a valid, non-invasive, and economical way of measuring physician practices.
    • The weakness is that the process cannot be applied in a diverse setting to test the consistency across the different population and lack of generalization ability (Goodman, Surman, Scherer, Salinas, & Brown, 2012).
11. What is the relevance of the research?
    • The differences in physician practices between psychiatry and primary care are beneficial in understanding various methods of managing adults with ADHD.
    • The research findings can be used as a basis for further studies to improve care for adults with ADHD.
12. What were the limitations of this study?
    • One of the limitations of this study is that the participants were self-selected which may have potential prejudices on the interest in adult ADHD.
    • Another weakness is that the research used self-reported data from the doctors which could be biased toward responses which are socially desirable (Goodman, Surman, Scherer, Salinas, & Brown, 2012).
13. What did the author(s) state were ways to improve the research on this topic?

    The authors of this study recommended that further education regarding adult ADHD will enhance the care of patients by both the psychiatrists and primary care physicians.

14. What are the ethical considerations of this research?
    • The study involved assessing personal health conditions. Therefore, the researchers employed mailed internet survey to collect participant data.
    • Further, the data obtained were deidentified and analyzed in total to preserve the confidentiality of information.

Reference (APA 7)

Goodman, D. W., Surman, C. B., Scherer, P. B., Salinas, G. D., & Brown, J. J. (2012). Assessment of Physician Practices in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders. doi:10.4088/pcc.11m01312