CRITICAL APPRAISAL

Critical appraisal

Critical Appraisal

Introduction

This study is about how to evaluate the effect of implementation of an evidence based skin care programmed for wet work employees as part of an occupational health and safety management system, wet work employees were included in a prospective randomized controlled trial, allocated to either intervention (n = 207) or control (n = 168). The intervention group was exposed to a skin care programmed during the five month study period. The intervention included an educational programmed for a group of frontline employees, who underwent formalized training, and subsequently introduced the information to their colleagues. As part of the intervention a skin care policy including written instructions was established at each workplace. Both groups answered a test quiz, completed questionnaires on behavior and symptoms, and underwent clinical examination of their hands before and after the five month period. RESULTS: No difference between the intervention and the control group was found at baseline with respect to clinical symptoms or behavior (Cook,Campbell,1979).

Evaluation after the five months of intervention revealed a significantly higher information level on skin care in the intervention group compared to the control group, a significant change in behavior in the intervention group but not in the control group, and significantly less skin symptoms as evaluated clinically in the intervention group but not in the control group. No significant difference was found for self reported skin problems. The intervention was successful with respect to information level (knowledge), behavior, and clinical symptoms. Implementation of a skin care programmed as part of an occupational health and safety management system is recommended as a prophylactic measure for employees in wet occupations (Cohen, Swerdlik, 2004).

Discussion

Some Precautionary Knowledge is necessary for a Valid Research which seems to be Underscore in this Article

Judging validity of Research

The validity of research conclusions refers to the degree to which the conclusions made about the null hypothesis are reasonable or correct. Because the null hypothesis typically states that a relationship between two variables does not exist, the validity of a research conclusion also refers to whether a relationship exists between two variables.

Although the validity of research conclusions is distinct from construct validity and external validity, it is important to distinguish conclusion validity clearly from internal validity. Internal validity involves whether a relationship between two variables is a plausibly causal one. The validity of a research conclusion is concerned only with the presence or absence of a relationship between two variables. Thus, conclusion validity answers the most basic of questions from a cumulative set of validity questions (followed by questions regarding internal validity, construct validity, and then external validity), as it requires only a decision regarding co variation (not casual aspects such as temporal precedence of the presumed cause occurring prior to the presumed effect and minimal alternative explanations).

Possible Conclusions and Possible Consequences

To understand fully how it is that research conclusions might be considered valid, one must first understand the basic logic of hypothesis testing. Essentially, there are only two possible conclusions to ...