Critical Appraisal Individual Assignment
Utilize the appropriate JBI Critical Appraisal Tool to complete an appraisal on each of the following four learning resources for this unit. For purposes of the assignment, you are to consider that you are appraising the appropriateness of the resource to support the development of a project to address the identified problem of depression noted in individuals who have experienced a natural or a man-made disaster.
After you have determined which of the Tools is appropriate for the article, you will download the Word file of the Tool and fill it out. These are to be submitted along with the completed template.
JBI Critical Appraisal Tools | JBI
Once you have completed the 4 Tools you will complete the template provided in the “Assignment Resources” section below.
The first 2 columns in the template are self-explanatory.
For the 3rd column you will reflect on the assignment instruction “to consider that you are appraising the appropriateness of the resource to support the development of a project to address the identified problem of depression noted in individuals who have experienced a natural or a man-made disaster”.
After completing the review of the article, decide if your appraisal indicates whether the article should be included as a resource to support a project or initiative to address the problem of depression experienced after a disaster. Indicate ‘Include’ or ‘Not Include’ in the 3rd column and provide a rationale for that decision.
- Al Harthi M, Al Thobaity A, Al Ahmari W, Almalki M. (2020). Challenges for nurses in disaster management: A scoping review. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 13, 2627-2634. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S279513Links to an external site.
- Inoue, Y., Stickley, A., Yazawa, A., Aida, J., Kawachi, I., Kondo, K., & Fujiwara, T. (2017). Adverse childhood experiences, exposure to a natural disaster and posttraumatic stress disorder among survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 28(1), 45–53. https://doi.org/10.1017/s2045796017000233Links to an external site.
- James, L.E., Welton-Mitchell, C., Noel, J.R., & James, A.S. (2020). Integrating mental health and disaster preparedness in intervention: A randomized controlled trial with earthquake and flood-affected communities in Haiti. Psychological Medicine,50(2):342-352.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7083573/ Links to an external site. - Seidel, D., Wurster, S., Jenks, J., Sati, H., Gangneux, J.-P., Egger, M., Alastruey-Izquierdo, A., Ford, N., Chowdhary, A., Sprute, R., Cornely, O., Thompson III, G., Hoenigl, M., & Kontoyiannis, D. (2024). Impact of climate change and natural disasters on fungal infections. Lancet, 5 (6), e594–e605. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(24)00039-9/fulltext
How to Write a Critical Appraisal Using JBI Tools for Disaster Related Depression Resources
Introduction
Critical appraisal is a foundational process in evidence based nursing practice because it enables researchers and clinicians to evaluate the credibility, reliability, and applicability of research evidence before integrating it into healthcare interventions. In the context of disaster related mental health, appraisal becomes especially important due to the psychological burden experienced by survivors of natural and man made disasters, which often includes depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress symptoms (Inoue et al., 2017). Selecting high quality evidence ensures that intervention programs are both scientifically sound and contextually appropriate for affected populations. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools provide structured frameworks for evaluating different research designs including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, systematic reviews, and opinion based literature. This appraisal examines four scholarly articles to determine their suitability for supporting a depression focused intervention project for disaster affected individuals.
Section 1: Appraisal of Al Harthi et al. (2020) Scoping Review
The study by Al Harthi et al. (2020) explores challenges faced by nurses in disaster management through a scoping review methodology, making the appropriate JBI tool the checklist for systematic and scoping reviews. The article provides a broad synthesis of disaster nursing challenges including preparedness gaps, resource limitations, and workforce constraints. However, its focus remains operational rather than psychological, limiting its direct contribution to mental health intervention development. While it provides useful contextual understanding of disaster response systems, it does not directly evaluate depression outcomes or mental health interventions. In relation to a disaster related depression project, the study offers indirect support by highlighting system level barriers that may influence mental health service delivery. Therefore, the article is categorized as Not Include because it does not provide direct or intervention specific evidence relevant to depression treatment or prevention in disaster affected populations.
Section 2: Appraisal of Inoue et al. (2017) Cohort Study
The study by Inoue et al. (2017) examines the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, disaster exposure, and post traumatic stress disorder among survivors of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. The appropriate JBI tool for this study is the cohort study critical appraisal checklist due to its longitudinal and exposure outcome design. The research demonstrates strong epidemiological rigor by identifying significant associations between disaster exposure and long term psychological distress. Although the primary outcome is post traumatic stress disorder, the findings are highly relevant to depression since both conditions frequently co occur in post disaster populations. The study provides valuable insight into risk factors contributing to psychological vulnerability after disasters. In relation to the proposed depression intervention project, this article offers strong supporting evidence regarding mental health consequences of disaster exposure. Therefore, it is categorized as Include because it provides relevant empirical evidence that strengthens understanding of post disaster mental health outcomes.
Section 3: Appraisal of James et al. (2020) Randomized Controlled Trial
The study by James et al. (2020) evaluates an integrated mental health and disaster preparedness intervention among earthquake and flood affected communities in Haiti using a randomized controlled trial design. The appropriate JBI tool for this article is the randomized controlled trial critical appraisal checklist due to its experimental structure. The study demonstrates high methodological quality through structured intervention delivery, control comparison, and measurable psychological outcomes. Findings indicate improved mental health outcomes and increased resilience among participants receiving the intervention. This provides strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of integrated mental health strategies in disaster settings. In relation to depression focused intervention planning, the study is highly relevant because it directly addresses mental health improvement in disaster affected populations. Therefore, it is categorized as Include due to its strong methodological rigor and direct applicability to intervention development.
Section 4: Appraisal of Seidel et al. (2024) Narrative Review
The article by Seidel et al. (2024) investigates the impact of climate change and natural disasters on fungal infections and emerging infectious diseases. The appropriate JBI tool for this article is the checklist for text and opinion papers or narrative reviews due to its descriptive and non experimental nature. The study provides a comprehensive overview of environmental health risks associated with disasters but does not focus on psychological or psychiatric outcomes. While it contributes to broader understanding of disaster related health consequences, it does not provide evidence related to depression or mental health interventions. As a result, its relevance to a depression focused intervention project is minimal. Therefore, the article is categorized as Not Include because it does not contribute directly or indirectly to mental health intervention design or depression related outcomes.
Conclusion
The critical appraisal of four disaster related health studies using JBI tools demonstrates the importance of aligning evidence selection with specific intervention goals. Studies that directly address mental health outcomes or provide strong epidemiological evidence of psychological distress are most valuable for supporting depression focused interventions in disaster affected populations. Among the reviewed literature, Inoue et al. (2017) and James et al. (2020) provide the strongest evidence base due to their direct or highly relevant focus on psychological outcomes and intervention effectiveness. In contrast, Al Harthi et al. (2020) and Seidel et al. (2024) contribute contextual or unrelated health system information that does not directly support depression intervention development. Overall, careful application of JBI tools ensures that only high quality and relevant evidence informs nursing practice and disaster mental health program design.
References
Al Harthi, M., Al Thobaity, A., Al Ahmari, W., & Almalki, M. (2020). Challenges for nurses in disaster management: A scoping review. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 13, 2627–2634. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S279513
Inoue, Y., Stickley, A., Yazawa, A., Aida, J., Kawachi, I., Kondo, K., & Fujiwara, T. (2017). Adverse childhood experiences, exposure to a natural disaster and posttraumatic stress disorder among survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 28(1), 45–53. https://doi.org/10.1017/s2045796017000233
James, L. E., Welton-Mitchell, C., Noel, J. R., & James, A. S. (2020). Integrating mental health and disaster preparedness in intervention: A randomized controlled trial with earthquake and flood-affected communities in Haiti. Psychological Medicine, 50(2), 342–352. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720000142
Seidel, D., Wurster, S., Jenks, J., et al. (2024). Impact of climate change and natural disasters on fungal infections. The Lancet Microbe, 5(6), e594–e605. https://www.thelancet.com
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