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Research Article Critique

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Research Article Critique
Research Article Critique
Tonya L. Smith, RN
Liberty University NUR 225

Research Article Critique The title of the research article I chose to critique is from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. “Hypertension, orthostatic-hypotension, and the risk of falls in a community-dwelling elderly population: The maintenance of balance, independent living, intellect, and zest in the elderly Boston study”; this title fits well with the content presented in the research article. The independent variables are clearly defined as well as the dependent variables for the research being conducted. The content of the abstract is a very good overview of the content and it is consistent with the content. The abstract summarizes the objective, design, setting, participants, measurements, and results.
Problem/Purpose
The problem being investigated is the risk of falls in the elderly population related to the effects of controlled and uncontrolled hypertension and orthostatic hypotension. The authors do identify the significance of the problem as falls for being the leading cause of disability for the elder generations. Adequate background information is not provided to support the problem because the subject at hand “has not been investigated previously” (Gangavati, et al., 2011, p. 383). Explanation of the purpose of this study being conducted is provided by the authors.
Literature Review The previous research articles and their outcomes are briefly described with different amounts of time from 1-3 minutes after individual is standing before a decrease in blood pressure of 10-20mmHg would occur and be related to a fall. The purpose “was to assess the association between hypertension, OH using multiple definitions, and their combination and the risk of recurrent falls in a community-dwelling elderly population” (Gangavati, et al., 2011, p. 384). The list of twenty eight references is used is this article. There are eight references



References: Gangavati, A., Hajjar, I., Quach, L., Jones, R., Kiely, D., Gagnon, P., & Lipsitz, L. (2011). Hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, and the risk of falls in a community-dwelling elderly population: the maintenance of balance, independent living, intellect, and zest in the elderly of Boston study. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society, 59 (3), 383-389. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03317.x Schmidt, N., & Brown, J. (2012). Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses: Appraisal and application of research (2 ed.). Valparaiso, IN: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

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