Collecting Biophysiologic

and Other Data

 BIOPHYSIOLOGIC MEASURES
• The trend in nursing research has been toward increased use of
measures to assess the physiologic status of study participants,
and to evaluate clinical outcomes.
• the National Institute for Nursing Research has emphasized the
need for more physiologically based nursing research.
• Many clinically relevant variables do not require biophysiologic
instrumentation for their measurement. Data on physiologic
activity or dysfunction can often be gathered through direct
observation (e.g., vomiting, cyanosis, edema, wound status).
• Other biophysiologic data can be gathered by asking people
directly (e.g., ratings of Collecting Biophysiologic and Other Data
pain, fatigue, or nausea).
 Purposes of Biophysiologic Measures

1. Basic physiologic processes.

2. Physiologic outcomes of nursing care.
3. Evaluations of nursing interventions.
4. Product assessments.
5. Measurement and diagnosis improvement.
6. Studies of physiologic correlates.
Types of Bio physiologic Measures
• In vivo measurements are those performed
directly in or on living organisms.
• Examples include measures of oxygen
saturation, blood pressure, and body
temperature.
• An in vitro measure, by contrast, is performed
outside the organism’s body, as in the case of
measuring serum potassium concentration in
the blood.
 In Vivo Measures
• In vivo measures often involve the use of
highly complex instrumentation systems.
• An instrumentation system is the apparatus
and equipment used to measure one or more
attributes of a subject and the presentation of
that measurement data in a manner that
humans can interpret.
Organism—instrument systems involve up to six
major components:
1. A stimulus
2. A subject
3. Sensing equipment (e.g., transducers)
4. Signal-conditioning equipment (to reduce interference
signals)
5. Display equipment
6. Recording, data processing, and transmission
equipment
 In Vitro Measures
• With in vitro measures, data are gathered by
extracting physiologic material from subjects and
submitting it for laboratory analysis.
• Nurse researchers may or may not be involved in the
extraction of the material; however, the analysis is
normally done by specialized laboratory technicians.
– Radiological measurements
– Biochemical measurements
– Microbiological measurements
– Cytological measurements
 Advantages
• More accurate & error less
• More objective
• Provide valid measures
• Easy assess for nurses
 Disadvantage
• Very expensive
• Require training, knowledge and experience
• Result may be affected by environment
• May cause fear & anxiety among patients
• May have harmful effects on participants
 Q METHODOLOGY
• Q methodology (Stephenson, 1975) refers to a
constellation of substantive, statistical, and
psychometric concepts for research on
individuals.
• Q methodology uses a Q-sort procedure,
which involves sorting a deck of cards
according to specified criteria.
 Q-Sort Procedures
• In a Q-sort study, participants are presented with a set of
cards on which words, statements, or other messages
are written.
• Participants are asked to sort the cards along a particular
dimension, such as approve/disapprove, most like
me/least like me, or highest priority/lowest priority.
• The number of cards is typically between 60 and 100.
Usually, cards are sorted into 9 or 11 piles, with
researchers designating the number of cards to be
placed in each pile.
• Subjects typically are asked to place fewer
cards at either of the two extremes and more
cards toward the middle.
 Purpose
• To inquire into the subjectivity of human mind
• To answer many difficult issues eg ; nurse pt
relationship
• To identify different attribute of individual
• To evaluate the effect of intervention
 Construction
• Q sorts can be constructed by researchers and tailored
to the needs of specific studies, but there are also
existing Q sorts.
• The advantages of using a previously developed Q sort
are that it is time-saving, provides opportunities for
comparisons with other studies, and usually includes
established information about data quality.
• An example of a widely used Q sort is the Child-
Rearing Practices Report (CRPR), a 91-item Q sort that
provides information about parenting behavior
 Evaluation of Q Methodology
• Q sorts have sometimes been used by qualitative researchers
(Brown, 1996), but more often are analyzed statistically.
• Options range from the most elementary, descriptive statistical
procedures, such as rank ordering, averages, and percentages,
to highly complex procedures, such as factor analysis.
• Factor analysis, a procedure designed to reveal the underlying
dimensions or common elements in a set of items.
• Specific computer software (Qmethod) has been designed for
analyzing Q-sort data (Brown, 1996).
 Advantages
• Offers a in depth study of small population
• Help with exploratory research
• Well develop ROL for support
• Capture individual’s subjectivity
• Randomization not require
• Q sorts are versatile and can be applied to a wide variety of problems.
• An objective and reliable procedure for the intensive study of an individual.
• used effectively to study the progress of people during different phases of
therapy, particularly psychotherapy.
• Eliminates response-set biases.
• more agreeable task to some people than completing a paper-and-pencil
instrument.
 Disadvantages
• Time consuming & exhaustive procedure
• Not very cost effective
• Only applicable to small sample
• Cannot use to test hypothesis
• Cannot normally be administered through the mail
• Difficult to obtain a geographically diverse sample.
• Q sorts are a forced-choice procedure: A person’s
response to one item depends on, and is restricted
by, responses to other items.