Evaluative Criteria and Research Approaches for Hypertension in the Homeless Population

Full Answer Section

• Blood pressure control: Are participants’ blood pressure levels controlled?

Research Approaches

The following research approaches will be used to answer the evaluation questions:

• Quantitative: Quantitative research methods will be used to assess participants’ knowledge, behavior, and blood pressure control. This may include surveys, questionnaires, and blood pressure measurements.
• Qualitative: Qualitative research methods will be used to explore participants’ experiences and perspectives on managing their hypertension. This may include interviews and focus groups.

Data Collection

The following data collection methods will be used to address each of the evaluative criteria:

• Knowledge: A survey will be used to assess participants’ knowledge of hypertension and its management. The survey will be developed based on the latest guidelines and recommendations from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.
• Behavior: A questionnaire will be used to assess participants’ engagement in healthy behaviors to manage their hypertension. The questionnaire will be developed based on the latest research on effective hypertension management strategies.
• Blood pressure control: Blood pressure measurements will be taken using a validated blood pressure monitor. Two measurements will be taken, one minute apart, and the average of the two measurements will be recorded.

Data Collection Tools

The survey and questionnaire will be developed in collaboration with a team of experts in hypertension management and adult education. The tools will be pilot tested with a small group of homeless adults with hypertension to ensure that they are understandable and culturally relevant.

Validity and Reliability

The survey and questionnaire will be validated using a content validity index (CVI). The CVI is a measure of how well the items in a survey or questionnaire represent the content domain that is being assessed. A group of experts in hypertension management and adult education will be asked to rate the items on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being “not relevant” and 4 being “very relevant.” Items with a CVI of 0.80 or higher will be retained in the final survey or questionnaire.

The reliability of the survey and questionnaire will be assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Cronbach’s alpha is a measure of the internal consistency of a survey or questionnaire. A Cronbach’s alpha of 0.70 or higher is considered to be acceptable for research purposes.

Appropriateness of Data Collection Methods

The data collection methods described above are appropriate to the research approach, type of data, and purpose of the evaluation.

The quantitative data collection methods (survey, questionnaire, and blood pressure measurements) are appropriate for assessing participants’ knowledge, behavior, and blood pressure control. These methods are objective and can be used to collect data from a large number of participants.

The qualitative data collection methods (interviews and focus groups) are appropriate for exploring participants’ experiences and perspectives on managing their hypertension. These methods are subjective, but they can provide rich and detailed data that can help to inform program improvement.

Conclusion

The evaluative criteria and research approaches described above are appropriate for assessing the effectiveness of hypertension management programs for the homeless population. The data collection methods are also appropriate for the research approach, type of data, and purpose of the evaluation.