Quantitative Article
Tan Jr, A. K., & Jeffrey Olivo, B. S. (2015). Assessing healthcare associated infections and hand hygiene perceptions amongst healthcare professionals. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 8(1), 108.

1. Describe how the researcher addresses the following four areas in the selected journal article (Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology and Data Analysis:

The purpose of the study is to support the World Health Organization hand hygiene campaign against healthcare associated infections (HAIs). The study aims to conduct an assessment of the perception towards hand hygiene amid healthcare professionals within the hospital. In particular, the study seeks to ascertain perceptions on HAIs and hand hygiene. The literature review conducted by the researcher was not quite extensive. Nonetheless, the previous research studies included by the author demonstrate that the execution of the hand hygiene strategy recommended by WHO is practicable, viable and sustainable across a wide range of different settings in various nations and gives rise to substantial compliance and knowledge enhancement amongst healthcare workers, supporting endorsement all over the globe.

In regard to methodology, the study employed a descriptive method by making use of a standardized survey questionnaire of the WHO. The main purpose of the descriptive research survey was to facilitate observation, description, analysis and also documenting elements of situation as it naturally takes place. In this regard, the perceptions regarding HAI and hand hygiene were the emphasis of the study carried out at the Ministry of Interior Security Hospitals in the Jeddah Kingdom within Saudi Arabia. Healthcare professionals were included in the sample of the study and in total 87 of them participated in the study.

In regard to data analysis, SPSS statistical software version 17 was utilized for purposes of the statistical analysis of the gathered data. Descriptive statistics and inferential non-parametric Chi-square test was employed. With respect to statistical tests, P-values less than 0.05 were taken into consideration to be statistically significant.

2. Evaluate whether the evidence presented in each of the four areas of the journal article from part A1 supports the outcome of the study and implications for future research

The evidence that is presented in each of the four areas aforementioned of the article supports the results of the study and implications for future research. The study examined the discernment towards hand hygiene amongst healthcare professionals in the hospital setting. The outcomes demonstrated that health care professionals have a substantially high level of knowledge and understanding regarding health care-associated infections and the key role that hand hygiene plays. To begin with, the study demonstrated that respondents have a substantially high discernment and point of view that health care associated infections have a significant impact in patient outcome. Secondly, the outcomes of the study did not just substantiate with the findings of previous research, but also demonstrated that most of the health care professionals had a huge magnitude of awareness regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of hand hygiene against HAI. This cognizance can be associated to the formal education attained and training attended and previously undertaken by respondents. In overall, the research findings of the study give the suggestion that health care workers have a significant level of awareness regarding HAIs and the significance of hand hygiene.

3. Explain how the protection of human subjects and cultural considerations were addressed by the researcher, using specific information from the journal article from part A.

One of the key ways in which the protection of human subjects were addressed in the study is through the seeking of ethical approval and sanction from the Infection Control and Prevention Committee of the hospital. Notably, research permit and consent was sought from the main director of the hospital. Secondly, participation of all human subjects in the study was entirely voluntary. None of the participants were forced to partake in the study. Third, information package and informed consent was provided. In regard to cultural considerations, the participants that were included in the research study encompassed healthcare professionals. That is, medical doctors, physicians, nurses as well as other persons who were directly in contact with the patients at least on...…play in the study. Subsequently, the researchers obtained informed consent from each of the study participants without any incentives. What is more, all of the study participants were given the assurance that any data and information rendered would be handles with the highest level of confidentiality.

4. Describe one strength and one limitation of the study

A key strength of the study is that there exists a limited literature in regard to the subject manner of multifaceted interventions that could be employed in addressing the problem being faced in Iran. In this regard, the study purposed to conduct an exploration of the stakeholders’ perspectives on measures of controlling HAIs in Iran.

The research study did face a number of limitations. One of the fundamental ones is that even though the authors gathered data from various levels and various placed engrossed in the prevention of as well as control of HAIs, for instance, hospital and medical universities in addition to using other approaches such as group discussions, assimilating all of the participants from the three levels was not viable and at the end of the day view and opinions of the stakeholders were obtained via semi-structured interviews.

5. Describe how the evidence from the article in part B informs current nursing practices

Evidence obtained from the article substantially informs the current nursing practices. One of the suggestions takes into account ensuring that the prevention and controlling of HAIs is part of the nationwide health agenda. There is also the recommendation of structural reforms, handing authority to infection control commissions, augmenting financial and material resources, and reinforcing the information and reporting system. Secondly, there is the recommendation that significant advancements in controlling HAIs could be attained if healthcare providers were incentivized to abide by standards or penalized for failure to act in line with principles. More importantly, there was the recommendation for bringing knowledge gap via research and education. That is, education in tandem with the active involvement with the media in emphasizing hand hygiene can substantially help in the tackling…