Qualitative Research Analysis 
Brittany Arrigoni, Emma Ciosek, Charsie Haygood, Nina Fainter
Nursing Research N302
October 7, 2012
Karen Collins

Qualitative Research Analysis  
	Being a new parent can be an exciting time for many with healthy babies. Sadly, this is not always the case and their baby may need to be sent to the NICU. The purpose of the research presented is to describe the parents’ feelings and perceptions of the infants’ pain management as well as adding to current research to redefine the involvement of parents and pain management in infant (Frank & Bruce, 2012). The framework used was based on a comprehensive model. The review of literature was appropriate, there was numerous studies used to base the results off of, and were reliable.  The research question was based on parent knowledge and to promote collaboration regarding the infant’s pain. The second objective was to refine the data involving the parent’s perception of their experience in regards to infant pain management and the factors that influenced this experience (Franck, Oulton & Bruce, 2011). Phenomenology method is used for the design of the study.  The sample size consisted of 84 participants in the intervention group and 85 in the control group. The sample was a randomized control trial. The major concepts included asking questions about the parents experience and applying it to the common themes to compare and contrast. A thematic method was used to organize the results. It was found that the control group and the intervention group seemed to have common answers.  Some of the parents felt uninformed about the pain level or felt in the way of the staff. They also were afraid that the infants would associate pain with them. Over half of the parents stated that they wanted to learn more about the pain levels. The authors feel that the results can be used by nurses to help guide the discussion of the pain level with parents and to understand what they are emotionally going through as well. The study helped base the future of research by discussing new models and techniques to further the results. 
Purpose of Article
The problem is clearly stated and concise. Frank, Oulton & Bruce present two main goals in their study, “The first was to describe perceptions and feelings of parents who participated in the recent RCT. The second aim was to further refine the conceptual representation of the parental experience of involvement in infant pain management (or lack thereof) and the influencing factors, informed by the new data and previous research” (p.47). The problem is researchable with data through interviews and analyzed in three common dates. The problem is also significant to nursing because when caring for children and infants, you aren’t just treating them; you are treating the whole family 
Conceptual Framework
The studies framework was based on a comprehensive model. This was stated as the results were identified. This was appropriate for the research because they were taking the results from past research and the results from their study and putting them together. Also, Frank, Oulton & Bruce (2011), state that it will help further research studies expand on their results. The concepts and relationships are identified in the research. They used the model to form their own model to help better analyze the results.  
Review of the Literature
	The review of literature of this study is appropriate.  The review of literature includes many different studies and data that have been collected ranging from 1997 to 2011 (Franck, Oulton & Bruce, 2011).  This data has provided a clear background of parent’s perceptions involving infant’s pain management while being in the neonatal intensive care unit. The data hared has a vast knowledge about the subject and also brought aware the need of future research.  The review of literature is well critiqued and provides numerous resources in which support the subject at hand (Franck, Oulton & Bruce, 2011).
Research Question/Hypothesis

	The research had clearly defined objectives and goals located in the abstract of the paper.  The objectives were researchable and also had the methods in which were necessary to meet these objectives available.  The objectives of this study included describing the recognition and reaction of parents who participated in a trial which goal was to increase parent knowledge and to promote collaboration regarding the infant’s pain (Franck, Oulton & Bruce, 2011).  The study also had a second objective which included refining the data involving the parent’s perception of their experience in regards to infant pain management and the factors that influenced this experience (Franck, Oulton & Bruce, 2011). The objectives of this study are supported by many other factors that are present in the data provided by the study.  The review of literature investigates the need for further research and provides that there are only six studies that have been completed regarding parent’s role in infant’s pain management (Franck, Oulton & Bruce, 2011).  
Variables
The variables are not clearly defined in this study but are defined conceptually.  The variables included the education that parents had with pain and pain management, the parent’s involvement with the infant, and the potential outcomes the newborn (Franck, Oulton & Bruce, 2011). The intervening variables included intention of pain control for newborn, intelligence in regards to pain, expectation for pain control (Franck, Oulton & Bruce, 2011).  Extraneous variables of the study included: social class of parents, age, gender, and intelligence level of the parents (Franck, Oulton & Bruce, 2011).  Due to pain being ever changing there is no control noted in this study.  
Design
In this study phenomenology is used and was approved by an authorized committee of the U.K. National Research Ethics Service. This is appropriate for this study because the objective is to understand parents’ feelings and perceptions of a trial intervention to increase parental knowledge and involvement in infant pain management to help refine the parental experience. The only limitation placed on the participants is that they have an infant in the NICU. The participants were selected in a randomized control trial. One group was a nurse-led intervention group of 84 participants who signed an informed consent. Upon admission to the NICU, parents received an evidenced-based booklet regarding information on pain and comforting the infant. The parents then received two 45 minute visits from a research nurse that showed them how to use comfort techniques that the booklet explained. They were also encouraged to ask staff for further instruction if needed. The second group is considered a control group and consisted of 85 participants who also signed an informed consent. They received two 45 minute visits from a research nurse regarding how their NICU experience was. Both groups of parents filled out three questionnaires: a baseline questionnaire at admission, one about a week after admission, and one about three months after discharge (Franck, Oulton, & Bruce, 2011). 
Sample 
	There are two different sample sizes because there are different groups. The intervention group has 84 participants and the control group has 85 participants. There were no limitations other than they are parents of a NICU infant. This sample would only apply to that population but with no other limitations such as gender, age, or ethnicity. The sample method is a randomized control trial which is appropriate because it is unbiased and allows a range of participants. Typically in a qualitative study the sample size is 50 participants or less and this study has two groups in which the sample size is larger than that. Phenomenology does state that convenience samples are used because it is based on individual experience and that limits and criteria are not placed. With that, the sample size would technically be large for a qualitative study but phenomenology uses a different type of sampling. Protection of subjects is not directly addressed but they all signed an informed consent (Franck, Oulton, & Bruce, 2011).
Data Collection Methods 
Two visits from nurse researchers are used and this allows the parents to comment on the experience. The article does not adequately state what the questionnaires ask or how long they are. It also does not state if the three questionnaires are different or all the same. Direct interviews seem to be the most appropriate method with this study. Also, it states that only written in comments on the open ended questions are analyzed in this study which may affect the outcome of the results. Reliability and validity of the tools are not stated or addressed in the article (Franck, Oulton, & Bruce, 2011).  
Data Analysis
Thematic analysis is a method of qualitative analysis based on participants' conceptions of actual communication episodes.  It is often performed through repetition and recurrence of a certain theme.  This study was conducted to describe and understand the parents who participated in this research, and their feelings and views on their involvement in their infants’ pain management.  This research was also carried out to understand and narrow down the parents’ thoughts about their involvement in the pain management of their child.  Since thematic analysis was the method of analysis chosen, it is appropriate for the level of measurement of the parents’ views and perceptions of their involvement in their child’s management of pain. The data analysis procedures of exploring the content of the parents’ comments that they had written help answer the research question.  The results of this research were clearly written. Tables and figures show the range that parents wanted to play in their infant’s pain management and common barriers that were involved (Franck, Oulton, & Bruce, 2011).  
Results, Conclusions, Discussion of Findings
The findings and interpretations were differentiated in this article. The results were shown by the written answers that were provided by the parents. The results showed that parents played a vital role in the management of pain with their child. Some parents feared that their child would associate the pain with them if they were present during the procedures. Parents from both the control group and the intervention group stated common barriers experienced in the pain care, including lack of knowledge of how to help, being in the way, the attitudes of the staff, being told to leave during the procedure, and complications that could go wrong. Over half of the parents suggested that they wanted to learn more about the pain that infants feel. The interpretations were explained in the fact that every parent has a different view on the level of involvement that the parent has. Along with that, parents also have a different view on what involvement actually means. Some parents believed that involvement meant just understanding the expected plan of care for the infant, while others believed it was having physical contact with the infant during the painful procedures.  A new model was developed with this research by the researchers that describes and explains the actual and potential trajectories for parent involvement.  The implication for nursing in this research explains how important it is for nurses to play an active role in educating the parents on how vital it is for them to take part in their child’s pain management.  The results of this study were generalized to the parents who have children that are in the NICU, but these results could apply to all parents when any of their children are in pain, even outside of the hospital setting.  It is suggested that further studies and research is needed to understand more about the parents’ involvement and to expand on the suggested trajectory model that was created and to possibly create a new explanatory model (Franck, Oulton, & Bruce, 2011).  
Overall evaluation of research report
This article was well-written, organized, and made sense. Each different category was separated in this article and labeled.  The categories went in chronological order as to how the research was performed and then interpreted.  The limitations and errors did not decrease the usefulness of this research.  This article should be used in nursing practice.  Sometimes parents are scared to be involved in the pain management of their children, so it is important that nurses educate the parents on how being involved can make a difference to the child.  This article is good because the research method and results are credible.  The participants and their responses remained confidential. 

References
Franck, L. S., Oulton, K., & Bruce , E. (2011). Parental involvement in neonatal pain 	management: an empirical and conceptual update. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 44(1), 	44-57. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2011.01434.x