Research Methodology
Justification of the research topic
Radiation therapy is a critical medical procedure that requires a lot of attention ranging from the medical practitioners, the patient’s commitment and in some cases excessive financial burdens. Radiotherapy in itself does not serve as a preventive approach to the curing of diseases rather than therapeutic (Hall 2002).
As a result of this, many voluntary organizations are increasingly becoming involved in the radiotherapy treatment process at different capacities ranging from public awareness, offering radiation therapy to patients and providing necessary assistance to patients such as follow up services (Hall 2002).
The involvement of various voluntary organizations at different capacities draws attention and therefore adequate research is required in order to evaluate the their perceptions towards radiotherapy.
The choice of this subject was also driven by the fact that adequate research has not been carried in the past concerning the perceptions of the voluntary organizations towards radiotherapy.
Research approach
Research approaches are principally determined by the structure of the research topic or question. When carrying out a research, there are basically two approaches; the qualitative and the quantitative approach (Bell 2005).
Qualitative method usually entails the collection of large amounts of information through the use of few assessments units such as interviews and in some cases observation so as to infer a viable conclusion. Quantitative approach usually involves the use of many assessment units which provide little information such as questionnaires (Byrnes 2008).
Since the overall purpose of the research study is to gain an in depth understanding of the perceptions of the voluntary organizations involved in cancer support towards radiotherapy, the qualitative method will be applied, and therefore it will involve the use of a semi structured interview as a primary method for data collection.
The research study will begin by an overview of some of the radiotherapy treatments, the investigation of the occurrence of ailments that require intensive use of radiation therapy such as cancers, the investigation of the involvement of the unknown organization in radiotherapy treatments, after which the study will focus on concrete empirical evidence, that will be used to study the perceptions of the unknown organization in cancer support for individuals that are currently undergoing radiation therapy.
Finally, the findings will be evaluated according to theory. This therefore implies an inductive approach will be used in the evaluation of the data that will be collected. An inductive approach begins with the collection of data during the research after which general conclusions and ideas are developed concerning the research (Holiday 2002).
The research will use the findings from the unknown organization to generalize the perceptions of the other voluntary organizations towards the support offered towards patients who are undergoing radiation therapy. This therefore implies that the inductive approach will be most suitable for this kind of research study (Louis, Manion, & Keith 2007).
Data collection
Data collected during a research are usually of two types, which can be collected from primary sources or secondary sources. Primary data is usually collected during the research through direct contact with the respondents (Louis, Manion, & Keith 2007).
In this particular research study, the major source of data collection will be through the use of semi-structured interviews with the respondents because the aim of the study was basically to measure the perceptions of the voluntary organizations involved offering cancer support for the individuals that are undergoing radiation therapy.
The use of semi structured interviews during the research study will not only facilitate the gathering of the required data but will also serve as an interactive approach since some questions are bound to come up during the interview depending on how the interviewee responds to the already formulated questions (Holiday 2002).
It will serve as an open discussion which will facilitate the gaining of a deeper insight on perceptions of the unknown organization towards the providing of support to individuals that are undergoing radiation therapy.
Primary data sources
Primary research involves the data acquisition based on first hand information by the researcher (Kalton 2008). This will be carried out through the use of semi-structured interviews which will be based on a one-on-one approach with the respondent.
The semi structured interviews will be based on a planned approach; which means that appointments will have to be made with the prospective respondents prior to the actual interview session.
Semi structured interviews
Semi structured interviews always serve as an effective method of gathering information in a social setting contrary to a structured interview which only consist of a set of limited questions. The effectiveness of semi-structured interview is demonstrated in its flexibility, allowing the expanding of the issues that are highlighted in the interview guide (Lindlof & Taylor 2002).
The interviewer will be presented with a framework of the issues that have to be researched extensively during the study. Interview guides will also be prepared since they outline the informal groupings which are topically arranged so that the interviewer will be able to ask different respondents different questions.
Interview guides also aids the research process through allowing the interviewer to focus on the topics that are at hand with actually arranging them in a predetermined format; this in turn will help the interviewer to customise the questions according to the situation and the individuals that are being interviewed (Saks & Allsop 2007).
The semi-structured interview will be used to gather definite information concerning how the unknown organization provides the support for individuals that are undertaking radiation therapy.
One of the significant purposes of the semi-structured interview is to provide motivation and encourage the interviewee to be part of the study (Strauss and Corbin 2008); this will be achieved through the formulation of interesting interview questions together with visual aid where it will be necessary to facilitate clarity.
More specifically, the interviewees will be asked to give their personal opinions which will not be disclosed during the presentation of the results. The interview process will take place at a time whereby the interviewee will be able to have the enough required time to answer all the questions that will be posed during the interview.
Sample selection
The key respondents that the study will use to reach the research purpose will basically involve about 10- 12 respondents from the unknown organization, who will be used to represent the overall perceptions of the voluntary organizations that are involved in cancer support for individuals that are undergoing radiotherapy.
The sampling methods that will be employed will include a blend of both quota sampling technique and random sampling since the sample size is generally small. Quota sampling refers to a situation whereby the researcher chooses a proportion of the elements that will be investigated during the study (Greenhalgh 2006).
The partition can be based on different categories such as gender, age, lifestyle and ethnicity. The researcher can then decide which categories to use in the proportion of the study elements depending on the ease of access.
For this particular study, the quotas that will be chosen will be divided into two distinct categories depending on age and the role of the participant in the unknown organization: above or below 30 years and either in the top level management or low level staff.
This classification represents a diverse people with different perceptions towards cancer support for the voluntary originations. Each classification was allocated five respondents basing on their willingness and the ease of access.
Value of the study
Pilot study
An Initial pilot study will be done in order to ensure the quality and accuracy of the interview’s questions. It will also be used to test the reliability and validity of the primary research through discussions with friends.
The initial pilot study will be aimed at detecting and rectification of the difficulties concerning the semi-structured interview such as cases of ambiguity in the questions and lack of clarity.
The pilot study will be carried out in the same organization involving a small number of respondents compared to the main research study.
The pilot study will also involve an interview with the individuals who have been beneficiaries of the unknown organization and have undergone radiation therapy at least once.
Method of data analysis
The analysis of data will primarily use descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Descriptive statistical method will be deployed to exemplify the fundamental characteristics of data and summary of analysis on the data (Strauss and Corbin 2008).
The presentation of information will use graphical methods such as graphs, tables and charts. In addition, inferential statistical approach will be used to derive at the conclusion of the research study after data analysis and evaluation.
Limitations and difficulties during the research study
The significant constraint that the research will face is the time constraints. This implies that only one method of data collection will be used; semi-structured interviews. Time limitations will also pose the problem of not having enough time with the respondent to answer the interview questions.
Which in turn may cause some of the most critical research issues not being explored and as result; the research may be ineffective in the evaluation of the findings (Strauss and Corbin 2008).
Another problem will be that some target respondents may not be interested in answering the questions during the research and during interview. Some respondents may also provide inaccurate information and eventually leading inaccurate results.
Another difficulty that will be encountered during the research will be ethical approval to carry out the research in the unknown organization.
Approving the research will involve convincing the relevant authorities and informing them of the purpose of research after which the final decision will be determined by the top level management of the unknown organization. Ethical approval will also require acceptance by the other members of the unknown organization, which of course is not guaranteed.
Another problem that will be encountered during the research will be geographical limitations. This may pose problems regarding gaining entry to the research site. Getting access to the participants will also be a problem because of the various security protocols and policies that are deployed at the unknown organization.
Having the participants to abandon their duties to respond to the interview is probably going to be an issue with the both the organization and the participants.
Ethical and legal concerns
There will be a number of ethical and legal issues concerning this project. Firstly, the interview questions should be devoid of sensitive questions.
Majority of people fear for their views to be known and they seek confidentiality. Some of the ethical and legal concerns will include:
- The principle of voluntary participation; which requires that no correspondent will be forced to participate in the study (Holiday 2002). This will be achieved through the involvement of only willing and cooperative participants.
- Preservation of the anonymity of the participants; all research studies should aim at guaranteeing the anonymity and confidentiality of the respondents (Louis, Manion, & Keith 2007). All the information collected will not be disclosed to any one under any circumstance. In addition the interviewers will not be asking the respondents their names and other associated personal information.
- Potential harm or good that may be as a result of the study; an ethical requirement of research study is that the researcher should not put the respondent in a harmful situation through his participation in the project (Saks & Allsop 2007). All participants shall receive equal treatment without prejudice and they will be informed the reasons for the research prior to their participation.
References
Bell, J., 2005. Doing your research project. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Byrnes, M., 2008. Field sampling methods for remedial investigations. New York: CRC Press.
Greenhalgh, T., 2006. How to Read A Paper: The Basis of Evidence-Based Medicine. Chichester: Wiley.
Hall, E.,2002. Radiobiology for the radiologist. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams Wilkins.
Holiday, A.,2002. Doing and Writing Qualitative Research. London: SAGE.
Kalton, G., 2008. Introduction to survey sampling. London: SAGE.
Lindlof, T., & Taylor, B., 2002. Qualitative Communication Research Methods. London: SAGE.
Louis, C., Manion, L., & Keith, M., 2007. Reasearch Methods in Education. London: RoutledgeFalmer.
Saks, M., & Allsop, J., 2007. Researching Health: Qualitative, Quantitave and Mixed Methods. London: SAGE.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J., 2008. Basis of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory. London: SAGE.
FAQs
What is the summary of radiation therapy? ›
Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is a cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. At low doses, radiation is used in x-rays to see inside your body, as with x-rays of your teeth or broken bones.
What is the introduction of radiation therapy? ›Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, is a type of cancer treatment. This treatment uses beams of intense energy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy most often uses X-rays. But other types of radiation therapy exist, including proton radiation.
What is the history of radiation therapy? ›Radiotherapy has its origins in the aftermath of the discovery of x-rays in 1895 and of radioactivity in 1896. Through scientific discoveries, trial and error, and technology advances, standardised approaches in external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy were developed.
How has radiation therapy changed the world? ›This allows the cancer cells to be killed or reduced in number whilst protecting the majority of other organs and tissues in the body. Radiation therapy contributes to 40% of all cancer cures world-wide as well as improving the quality of life for many others.
What are the goals and objectives of radiation therapy? ›The objective of radiation therapy is to kill enough cancer cells to maximize the probability of cure and minimize the side effects. Under some circumstances, radiation therapy may also be used as palliation, or palliative care, which is aimed at reducing symptoms but not curing the underlying disease.
What is the brief history of radiation protection? ›By 1915, the British Roentgen Society had adopted a resolution to protect people from overexposure to x‐rays. This was one of the first organized efforts in radiation protection. American organizations had adopted the British protection rules by 1922. Awareness and education continued to grow.
Who was the first person to use radiation therapy? ›One of the first Americans to use X-ray radiation to treat cancer was a Chicago chemist and homeopathic physician named Émil Grubbé (1875-1960).
What was the need that led to radiation therapy being created? ›Radiation was generally believed to have bactericidal properties, so when radium was discovered, in addition to treatments similar to those used with x-rays, it was also used as an additive to medical treatments for diseases such as tuberculosis where there were resistant bacilli.
What are 3 uses of radiation and how has it benefited society? ›Today, to benefit humankind, radiation is used in medicine, academics, and industry, as well as for generating electricity. In addition, radiation has useful applications in such areas as agriculture, archaeology (carbon dating), space exploration, law enforcement, geology (including mining), and many others.
How does radiation benefit society? ›Today, radiation is a common and valuable tool in medicine, research and industry. It is used in medicine to diagnose illnesses, and in high doses, to treat diseases such as cancer. Also, high doses of radiation are used to kill harmful bacteria in food and to extend the shelf life of fresh produce.
Where was radiation therapy first used? ›
LINAC-based radiation therapy for cancer treatment began with the first patient in 1953 in London, UK, at Hammersmith Hospital, with an 8 MV machine built by Metropolitan-Vickers and installed in 1952, which was the first dedicated medical LINAC.
What are the three principles of radiation therapy? ›For reducing radiation exposure, there are 3 principals: time, distance, and shielding.
What are the basic principles of radiation therapy? ›How radiotherapy works. Radiotherapy ionises chemicals within cells. The crucial lesion is DNA strand breakage which may be repaired or fixed and lead to apoptotic or mitotic cell death. Different types of normal and malignant cells vary in their susceptibility to ionising radiation.
What is another name for radiation therapy? ›Also called irradiation and radiotherapy.
What are the effects of radiation? ›What are the acute health effects of radiation exposure? At very high doses, radiation can impair the functioning of tissues and organs and produce acute effects such as nausea and vomiting, skin redness, hair loss, radiation burns, acute radiation syndrome or even death.
Which 3 types of radiation can be harmful? ›Gamma rays are the most harmful external hazard. Beta particles can partially penetrate skin, causing “beta burns”. Alpha particles cannot penetrate intact skin. Gamma and x-rays can pass through a person damaging cells in their path.
What is the strongest form of radiation? ›Gamma rays can be emitted from the nucleus of an atom during radioactive decay. They are able to travel tens of yards or more in air and can easily penetrate the human body. Shielding this very penetrating type of ionizing radiation requires thick, dense material such as several inches of lead or concrete.
What is the importance of radiation therapy? ›Radiation therapy is an essential tool for treating cancer and is often used with other therapies, such as chemotherapy or tumor removal surgery. The main goals of radiation therapy are to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. There are many reasons why doctors may choose to treat cancer with radiation.
What are the two main aims of radiation protection? ›The aim of radiation protection is to prevent reliably the deterministic effects of radiation and to reduce the risk of stochastic effects to a reasonably achievable level.
What is the main purpose of the radiation protection program? ›The purpose of radiation protection is to provide an appropriate level of protection for humans without unduly limiting the beneficial actions giving rise to radiation exposure.
What is the most important concept for radiation safety? ›
The guiding principle of radiation safety is “ALARA”. ALARA stands for “as low as reasonably achievable”. ALARA means avoiding exposure to radiation that does not have a direct benefit to you, even if the dose is small.
What is a radiation safety plan? ›The purpose of this plan is to provide information and establish general procedures on the proper use and handling of radioactive materials. Radiation Safety Personnel (RSP) should be consulted for explanations or additional information.
Why were radiation protection guidelines established in the early 1900s? ›Why were radiation protection guidelines established in the early 1900s? While scientists and medical professionals saw the benefits of radiation, they were becoming more aware of the illnesses and deaths caused by radiation if it was not handled properly.
Who took the most radiation in history? ›Albert Stevens (1887–1966), also known as patient CAL-1 and most radioactive human ever, was a house painter from Ohio who was subjected to an involuntary human radiation experiment and survived the highest known accumulated radiation dose in any human.
Who has taken the most radiation in history? ›A freak accident at a Japanese nuclear plant more than 20 years ago exposed a technician to the highest levels of radiation ever suffered by a human being. Hisashi Ouchi came to be known as the 'world's most radioactive man' after suffering the accident.
Who invented radiation in 1900? ›On April 20, 1902, Marie and Pierre Curie successfully isolate radioactive radium salts from the mineral pitchblende in their laboratory in Paris. In 1898, the Curies discovered the existence of the elements radium and polonium in their research of pitchblende.
What is the history of radiation exposure? ›The acute effects of radiation exposure were first seen in 1896 when Nikola Tesla purposefully subjected his fingers to X-rays and reported that this caused burns to develop, although at the time he attributed the burns to ozone. The mutagenic effects of radiation were not realized until decades later.
What not to do during radiation treatment? ›Don't wear tight clothing over the treatment area. It's important not to rub, scrub or scratch any sensitive spots. Also avoid putting anything that is very hot or very cold—such as heating pads or ice packs—on your treated skin.
What are the 5 steps of radiation therapy? ›Overall, there are five basic steps of radiation therapy that we can share to give patients an idea of what to expect. These steps include initial consultation, simulation, treatment planning, treatment delivery and post treatment follow-up.
What is a radiation therapist in simple terms? ›A radiation therapist is part of the care team that treats patients with cancer and other diseases through the use of radiation treatments. They work with doctors who specialize in radiation therapy (radiation oncologists) and oncology nurses who specialize in caring for cancer patients.
What information is included in a treatment summary? ›
A detailed summary of a patient's disease, the type of treatment the patient received, and any side effects or other problems caused by treatment.
What are the 4 R's of radiation therapy? ›In general, success or failure of standard clinical radiation treatment is determined by the 4 R's of radiobiology: repair of DNA damage, redistribution of cells in the cell cycle, repopulation, and reoxygenation of hypoxic tumor areas.
What are the most common side effects of radiation therapy? ›- Fatigue.
- Hair loss.
- Memory or concentration problems.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Skin changes.
- Headache.
- Blurry vision.
Clean the skin daily with warm water and a mild soap recommended by your nurse. Avoid using any lotions, perfumes, deodorants or powders in the treatment area unless approved by your doctor or nurse. Avoid products containing alcohol, which may dry your skin.
What is the radiation therapist responsible for? ›Radiation therapists are responsible for delivering therapeutic doses of ionizing radiation in the treatment of cancer. They administer X-rays, gamma rays and electrons to cancer patients.
What is another name for a radiation therapist? ›A radiation therapist, therapeutic radiographer or radiotherapist is an allied health professional who works in the field of radiation oncology.
Is radiation therapy good or bad? ›Despite the side effects, radiotherapy can be a highly effective treatment for cancer. 4 out of every 10 cancer cures include radiotherapy as part of the treatment plan. However, radiotherapy doesn't cause cancerous tumours to shrink immediately and it can take some time for the beneficial effects to become apparent.
What are the golden rules of radiation protection? ›Distance yourself appropriately from sources of radiation. Use appropriate shielding for the type of radiation. Contain radioactive materials within defined work areas. Wear appropriate protective clothing and dosimeters.
What are the three basic rules of radiation safety? ›Do you want to reduce your radiation exposure? Please remember the 3 principles; time, distance, and shielding.
What are the three steps in radiation therapy? ›- Step 1: Consultation. Your first visit to radiation oncology is a consultation with the radiation oncologist and your care team including a resident physician and a registered nurse. ...
- Step 2: Simulation. ...
- Step 3: Treatment planning. ...
- Step 4: Radiation Treatment.
How do you summarize a therapy session? ›
reviewing the work done so far, and taking stock. bringing a session to a close, by drawing together the main threads of the discussion. beginning a subsequent session, if appropriate. starting the process of focusing and prioritising 'scattered' thoughts and feelings.
What is a summary statement for patients? ›The summary statement briefly summarizes the pertinent positive and negative information from the history, exam and labs/medical test/imaging thats value and significance will impact your clinical opinions and problem list.
How do you write a clinical summary? ›- Know how the clinical paper summary will be used. ...
- Read the article properly. ...
- Don't forget tables and figures. ...
- Explain the clinical finding in your own words.