CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1 Research Design
A hospital based analytic cross-sectional design study will be carried out at the Nkwen District
Hospital Bamenda . The cross-sectional design is advantageous in that it is an affordable study
method. This is because no follow-up-is required with this type of research design. Once the
information is collected from the entire study population, it can be analyzed because only that
single time reference is being considered.
It provides better precision in sampling process. With cross-sectional studies, the entire
population is considered at once which forces researchers to consider all local influences at the-
time data is being gathered.
It allows anyone to analyze the data to draw conclusions. Actually, the information that is
obtained through cross-sectional studies is suitable for a secondary data analysis. That means
researchers can collect the data for their own purposes, then another set of researchers can use
the same data for a different purpose.
3.2 Study Area
This study will be carried out at the Nkwen District hospital located in Bamenda, situated in the
Nkwen neighborhood in the North West Region of Cameroon. The Nkwen District Hospital is
headed by a director who is assisted by a medical adviser who oversees the medical activities and
a general supervisor who oversees the nurses’ activities. This research shall be carried out within
3months from February 2026 -April2026
3.3 Target Population
The target population will be all nurses at the Nkwen District Hospital. Narrowing my scope of
study, it will include state registered nurses (SRN), nursing with a higher national diploma
(HND), higher professional diploma (HND), bachelors of science (BSc) degree in nursing and
above and midwifes.
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3.4 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
3.4.1 Inclusion Criteria
The inclusion criteria will be nurses of all categories working at the Nkwen District Hospital
who will be present on the day of study.
3.4.2 Exclusion Criteria
Health Personnel’s who will refuse to give their consents
3.5 Sample size Determination
The sample size determination will be based on estimating the proportion of health care
personnel’s at the Nkwen District Hospital
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3.5.1 Sample size Calculation
Calculation of the sample size (nO) was done according to the Survey System (2016) using the
Lorenz formula:
Where;
n = minimum sample size required for infinite population
p= pre-study estimates of the proportion of nurse educators who use simulations and it has a
value of
50% or 0.5 (and since there was no pre-studied estimate from previous studies, 50% or 0.5 was
used)
9=1-p
d= the degree of precision or the accuracy (= 5% or 0.05) z= standard normal variant at
confidence level of 95% (normal value is 1.96) hence,
Sample
size (no)
(1.96)2(0.5)
(0.5)/
(0.05)2=0.9604/0.0025=385 Persons
However, the nursing staff population is estimated at a total of 58 personnel.
Therefore, the minimum sample size required for the finite population, n, was calculated as
n= 385/(1+385/58) = 50.2 thus the sample size for this study is 50 Nurses
Sample size:A minimum sample of Twenty (20) nurses and midwifes shall be sorted by the
simple random sampling technique.
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3.6 Sampling Technique
A simple random sampling technique will be used to get the sample size for this study. Here,
each member of my study population will have an equal probability of being chosen. It is meant
to be an unbiased representation of a population. The sample will include all the state registered
nurses(SRN), nursing with a higher national diploma(HND), bachelors of science ([Link].) degree
in nursing and midwifes who are working in the Surgical Unit at the Nkwen District Hospital.
This sampling technique uses randomization to make sure that every member of the population
gets an equal chance to be part of the selected sample.
3.7 Data Collection Instrument
The instrument for data collection will be a structured questionnaire made up of closed ended
questions based on Pre-operative Assessment and Care of Patients with answers for the-
participants to tick. The questionnaire will be divided into 4 sections. The first section being
demographic data, then the-other 3 sections representing a specific objective of the study.
3.8 Validation of Data Collection Instruments
A pretesting of the questionnaire will be carried out at the Bambui district hospital, a total of 10
nurses will be conveniently sampled for validation of the questionnaire where by wrongly-
phrased questions will be rephrased, grammatical errors will be corrected and difficult questions
will be simplified. This will be in order to make the questionnaire more comprehensible and
avoid having unanswered questions.
3.9 Study Procedure
participants, an approval will be obtained from the unit head of each unit. Repeated visits will be
made to each unit to enable the principal investigator meet the health personnel’s. A brief
explanation of the study will be made and clarifications will-be done where need be. Assigned
consent form of those who-will be willing to participate will be obtained after they would have
shown full understanding of the purpose of the study, then the questionnaires will be self-
administered to them. The questionnaire will be divided into 4 sections. The first section being
demographic data, then the other 3 sections representing a specific objective of the study. The
notice for the demographic data will be, just after the consent form. The questionnaire will be
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issued during the day from 8am-4pm and each participant will have ≤30 minutes to fill the
questionnaire. The questionnaires will be filled by the participants under the supervision of the
principal investigator to ensure accuracy of data obtained from the participants.
3.10 Ethical Considerations
For this study to be executed, an ethical clearance will be obtained from the faculty of health
sciences university of Bamenda after a copy of the proposal, an application, my name and
research topic must have been submitted to the faculty. Following this, my research topic and
name will be submitted to the vice dean in charge of studies, who will give an authorization.
This authorization from school together with an application and the clearance, will be submitted
to the regional delegation of public health northwest region, who will give me an authorization to
conduct the study at my study site. this authorization from the regional delegate of public health
and written application, will be submitted to the general supervisor of NDHB ,who will give me
an authorization to commence with the research.
Informed consent will be obtained from each participant by each one of them signing the consent
form before answering the questionnaire. they will be made to understand that they are free task
questions. Respondants information will not be disclosed.
3.11 Data Management
In order to manage the data, confidentiality will be respected whereby the questionnaires will be
looked up in a cupboard and then a secured folder will be created on a computer in to which all
the information gotten from the questionnaires will be-entered. also, the forms will be
anonymous so that no participant will be identified by name.
3.12 Data Analysis
Data will be analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), version23.0 and
the results displayed on tables, figures and graphs.
3.13 Expected Outcomes
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Most importantly, the results of this proposal will go a long way to reinforce the implementation
of the WHO standard of proper Pre-operative Care at the NDHB
The various challenges in Pre-operative Care of Patients will be identified and appropriate
measures taken by healthcare personnel at NDHB to resolve them. It will also be used as a tool
for nurses and other health personnel in identifying the various aspects and errors of Pre-
operative Care
3.14 Budget
Table 1: Budget
S/n Activity Amount in fcfa Justification
Proposal
1 10,000 Typing, printing
development
Buying of time in the
2 Literature search 4000
internet
Development of
3 3,500 Typing and printing
research instrument
4 Validation of 2000 Transportation to the
instrument study site, feeding
5 Visit to the study site 3,500 Transportation,
feeding and mobile
communication credit
Correcting the Typing, printing and
6 2,500
instrument binding
7 Data collection 25,000 Buying of papers,
pens, pencils, typing
and printing
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8 Data analysis 10,000 Buying of pens,
pencils, ruler, eraser,
calculators
Research project Typing, printing and
9 20,000
write up binding
10 Research project 20,000 Decoration of defense
define hall, preparation of
snacks for jury
members and
reception
11 Miscellaneous 12,000
12 Total 112,500
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3.15 Time Frame
This study will run from February to April of the year2025;all the activities are arranged and
allocated to them thus;
S/n Activities Feb2025 Mar2025 April2025
1 Proposal development
2 Literature search
3 Development of research instrument
4 Proposal defence
5 Pre-testing
6 Correction of instrument
7 Visit to study site
8 Data collection
9 Data analysis
10 Research project write-up
11 Presentation of research results
3.16. Study Limitations
Recall bias is a systematic error that occurs when participants do not remember previous events
or experiences accurately or omit details. It is a problem in studies that have self-reporting such
as cross-sectional study, case-control study. It can be greater when the study participant has
poorer recall in general. It is influenced by age, education, how important the disease is to the
participant/patient. Strategies that might reduce recall bias include careful selection of research
questions, choosing an appropriate data collection method.
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Recall bias is overcome by:
Giving the participants enough time to fill the questionnaires so that they might recall some
important information(s) that will aid them fill the questionnaire.
Meet them when they are less busy. This enables them to have a relaxed mind that is necessary
to fill the questionnaire.
Involve those who have practiced for at least 6 months so that they will have the required
knowledge necessary to fill the questionnaire.