ARTICLE CRITIQUE

Article Critique

Article Critique

Introduction

The article chosen for critique is 'Thresholds for Minimum Data Set Quality Indicators Developed and Applied in Icelandic Nursing Homes' by Ingibj¨org Hjaltad´ otter, Ingalill Rahm Hallberg and Anna Kristensson Ekwall. The issues discussed in the article are thresholds for minimum data set quality indicators for Icelandic nursing homes. The method used in this article is Delphi technique (Hjaltadóttir, 2012).

Study Purpose

The purpose of the article is to determine the MDS quality indicators in upper and lower thresholds for the nursing homes in Iceland and then apply the results to the data after 2009 and identify areas for improvements. The purpose of the article is clear to the audience. The purpose has been defined properly. The article has been directly started from the thresholds quality for the nursing and the improvements in nursing homes. The purpose identified by the article is relevant to the nursing homes' application of thresholds. This kind of study was required to know if the Icelandic nursing homes can use the thresholds for quality indicators of minimum data set.

The article indicated that for the purpose of improvements in nursing homes, the thresholds for quality improvements were established in Missouri. Initially, the thresholds indicated the poor quality and good quality care. The thresholds were maintained at the achievable levels where the improvement was encouraged. The goals for improvement were revised with time. The thresholds for the standardized measurement and thresholds were promising and fulfilling. According to the article, the Icelandic nursing homes had the quality indicators available along with the national prevalence but sill there was deficiency of thresholds and goals for improvements along with less or no support for the quality improvement.

Research Design

There has not been any particular framework or theory for the guidance of the study. Instead, the past studies and researches have been discussed before the discussion of application of the methods. Without the framework and theory, the sample was 57 nursing homes with 2305 number of residents in Iceland. The residents were studied for this research. In this article, Delphi technique was used as well. It is required that the educational and consultation support service is implemented for the staff help in nursing home for the interpretation of QI reports, implementing changes for the improvement care delivery and conducting quality improvement projects (Hjaltadóttir, 2012).

Literature Review

The literature review is brief and introductory. There has not been much discussion with the literature review in the study. The literature review discussed was not current; it was older than the past 5 years. Yes, there have been benchmark publications in the literature review. The sources for the literature review were secondary. The literature review is well organized; it has an introduction and a summary. According to the article, the thresholds of quality indicators require development for the guidance and facilitation of improvements in the quality of nursing homes of care and for the assurance of well being of residents.

The article has highlighted the importance of the quality of care for older ...