Running head: QUALITATIVE CRITIQUE OF FEMALE PATIENTS WITH CHF 1 Qualitative Research on Female Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

This paper is a group critique of a qualitative nursing study entitled “Female patients with congestive heart failure: how they conceive their life situation”, by Martensson, Karlsson, and Fridlund, as published in 1998. The primary purpose of the study was to describe from a nursing perspective how female patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) perceive, or conceive, their own situation in daily living, and the various coping mechanisms they use to function and manage this chronic disease. In exploring these factors, it was an attempt to find out if these various feelings and perceptions affected outcomes in regards to management. This study used the qualitative method of phenomenography in an attempt to study in-depth the perceptions of a select group of 12 women aged 65-85, regarding the chronic and malignant condition of CHF. In conclusion of their findings, patterns of responses revealed five distinct categories. Martensson, Karlsson, & Fridlund (1998) identified important nursing interventions included the following: instilling hope and confidence in these patients, encouraging verbalization of feelings as well as goal setting within realistic boundaries. These increased the patient’s and their family’s knowledge about CHF, focusing on empowerment and self-care. This ultimately would decrease the incidence of re-admission to the hospital setting and provide longer durations between hospitalizations. FEMALE PATIENTS WITH CHF 3 Qualitative Critique of Female Patients with Congestive Heart Failure The qualitative study used in this critique is “Female Patients with Congestive Heart Failure: how they conceive their Life Situation” by Martensson, Karlsson, & Fridlund, 1998. The problem of the study is the issue of CHF in women, and more specifically, how they perceive this disease affects their life and well-being. The study design used qualitative study parameters, sample size, and setting in which data was collected from the study subjects. Data collection methods are critiqued and evaluated to ascertain whether it was appropriate for this particular study and whether ethical and professional guidelines were adhered to. An evaluation of data analysis procedures was done which involved looking for consistency with the qualitative design and method of phenomenonography and patterns. Various strengths and limitations of this study are explored, and the validity of the results was examined. The practicality, usefulness and how this can be further expanded upon for further nursing research. Problem Identification and Resolution (Martensson, et al., 1998) studied “Female patients with congestive heart failure: how they conceive their life situation”, to research the mindsets and feelings of women with CHF and to determine if these made a difference in outcomes. The problem is important for nursing because “CHF is a significant health problem for women, particularly elderly women” (Martensson, et al., 1998, p. 1217). The authors also noted there was a sense of limitation regarding work capacity, being able to support those in their surroundings causing anxiety and insecurity about themselves and their environment. This resulted in feelings of worthlessness concerning their own capacity and they felt they were a burden to those around them. Through nursing intervention, these patients received help to break this vicious cycle of feeling limited and FEMALE PATIENTS WITH CHF 4 powerless. More data suggests that “event rates after the diagnosis of congestive heart failure are in fact higher in women than men” (Martensson, et al., 1998). Martensson, et al., (1998) addressed from a nurse’s perspective, how female patients with CHF conceived their overall situation in life and how this leads to the need for adequate, effective education and information. This will “enable them to make decisions and be able to plan for the future” (p. 1217). This was an important study for these reasons that addressed the problem of how these women perceived their lives; interventions can be critical in empowering patients with maximum well-being and management of a chronic disease.