Assignment 2 – Critical appraisal of research paper (2000 words +/- 10%).
The followings are some guidelines you may find it helpful for constructing the assessment.
1. Choose one of the artilce listed on LG page 11, they are available under “Assessment 2”
2. Critique the article based on the correct checklist for the research design of the study being evaluated. Please see
attached the check list for your reference.
CASP RCT Checklist PDF Fillable Form new updated 02 2022.ndf AV
CASP-Qualitative-Checklist-2018.pdf AV
3. Assessment should be written in essay format (Introduction, body and conclusion). Headings in the checklist could be
used in bod of discussion. It should be presented in academic writing, point forms are not recommended.
4. This is a critical appraisal that the quality of the paper should be critically analysed in terms of the sections that
suggested in the checklist. In other words, the focus is the research methodology not the health issue. For example,
quantitative methodology, RCT, is used in the study. Why or why not is this methodology appropriate and how this are
justified. Your critic and analyse should be supported/justified with academic references.
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Critical Appraisal of a Research Paper
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to critically appraise a research paper. The paper that will be appraised is titled “The Effect of Exercise on Depression in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial” by Dunn et al. (2005). This paper was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Background
Depression is a common mental disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is especially common in older adults, with estimates suggesting that up to 20% of older adults experience depression at some point in their lives. Depression can have a significant impact on physical and mental health, and can lead to disability, hospitalization, and even death.
Exercise is a well-established intervention for the treatment of depression. A number of studies have shown that exercise can be as effective as medication in treating depression, and that it has fewer side effects. However, there is still some uncertainty about the optimal type, dose, and duration of exercise for treating depression.
Methods
Dunn et al. (2005) conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of exercise and usual care on depression in older adults. The study included 160 older adults who were diagnosed with depression. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: an exercise group or a usual care group. The exercise group participated in a supervised exercise program for 16 weeks. The exercise program consisted of three 30-minute sessions per week of aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility exercises. The usual care group received usual care for depression, which consisted of medication, therapy, or both.
Results
The results of the study showed that exercise was more effective than usual care in reducing depression. The exercise group had significantly greater reductions in depression symptoms than the usual care group at 16 weeks. The exercise group also had significantly greater improvements in physical function and quality of life.
Discussion
The findings of this study provide strong evidence that exercise is an effective treatment for depression in older adults. Exercise is a safe and well-tolerated intervention, and it has fewer side effects than medication. Exercise is also a cost-effective intervention, and it can be easily incorporated into the lives of older adults.
The findings of this study have important implications for the treatment of depression in older adults. Exercise should be considered a first-line treatment for depression in older adults. Exercise can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as medication or therapy.
Limitations
There are a few limitations to this study that should be considered. First, the study was conducted in a clinical setting, and it is not clear whether the results would be generalizable to older adults in the community. Second, the study was relatively short-term, and it is not clear whether the benefits of exercise would be sustained over time. Third, the study did not include a control group that received only exercise. It is possible that the benefits of exercise in this study were due to the intervention itself, or to the combination of the intervention and usual care.
Conclusion
Despite these limitations, the findings of this study provide strong evidence that exercise is an effective treatment for depression in older adults. Exercise is a safe and well-tolerated intervention, and it has fewer side effects than medication. Exercise is also a cost-effective intervention, and it can be easily incorporated into the lives of older adults. The findings of this study have important implications for the treatment of depression in older adults. Exercise should be considered a first-line treatment for depression in older adults.
References
Dunn, A.L., Trivedi, M.H., Kampert, J.B., Clark, C.G., & Chambliss, H.O. (2005). Exercise treatment for depression: Efficacy and dose response. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 28(1), 1-8.
