EPIDEMIOLOGIC CRITIQUE of a scientific literature Statistics Project

EPIDEMIOLOGIC CRITIQUE of a scientific literature - Statistics Project Example Previous studies have reported that families of terminally ill patients have a significantly high burden. Therefore, Gelfman, Meier, and Morrison (2008) set out to examine quantitatively the impact that consultative services at palliative care centers have on the patient’s family members. This particular research study does not utilize any conceptual or theoretical framework. This quantitative research study’s purpose was to examine whether consultative services at palliative care centers improved care quality for the bereaved family. The research question was: what is the impact of hospital palliative care consultation service on the quality of care received by family members of patients who dies at a large NYC tertiary hospital? (Gelfman et al, 2008). The research study qualifies the importance of this question by stating that there is the need for additional information of the relationship between hospital palliative care services and its effects on members of the family. This research question, in turn, qualifies the use of descriptive statistics as part of a descriptive research design. The research article set out to examine a subject that has not been researched widely with regards to hospital palliative care and its impacts on bereaved family members. The hypothesis for this study was that palliative care hospital services would improve care quality for members of the patient’s family (Gelfman et al, 2008). The research is expected to show that family members of patients who die at palliative care centers, especially those involved in the process of care, have a more favorable experience of their kin’s death, reduced costs and length of stay, and improved satisfaction. The exposure of interest was palliative care support services for the family members of terminally ill patients, while the outcome of interest was the emotional and spiritual effects of the palliative care on the