how to critically analyse ?

[Cozyxmas]

On my second year of a nursing degree and I am really struggling with the written work.
I have an essay and I have to critically analyse the biosychosocial model in looking after a patient with multiple sclerosis.
I haven't even got a clue what the hell I am meant to be doing :( feel like giving up.
Any advice ?

Define the bio wotsit model. Discuss advantages, what is good about it - wh

Sorry! Who says it works, what evidence is there of its advantages.

Then criticise it! What's bad about it, why doesn't it always work, evidence to show that.

Conclusion - eg works in these circumstances but caution should be taken and other models considered in these circumstances.

Am not in any way shape or form a nurse btw - but 'critically analyse' is pretty much the same whatever the discipline.

https://subjectguides.york.ac.uk/critical/writing

Your own university's academic library will probably have a 'how to' guide as part of their study skills resources. Books like this critical thinking one is helpful, it is usually on most basic nursing reading lists.

https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/bob-price/critical-thinking-and-writing-for-nursing-students/9781844453665?cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=18059580451&cq_con=&cq_med=pla_with_promotion&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIApYs23HriFHFZvGt_ccPH38&gclid=CjwKCAiA7t6sBhAiEiwAsaieYl3tLNBD4eqDQJYG_k1JfR32rt77C4oVlZTPDm09v0tnXmRQX4pKgRoC9OAQAvD_BwE#GOR004408749

It's also worth having a chat with one of your tutors about critical analysis and how you can strengthen your skills. They will build as you use them more and get feedback on your work but the more you can get help, the quicker that will happen. Academic librarians may also be able to help point you to online resources or offer face to help.

Do you have a student support team at your uni? The team at the uni I went to were fab about helping to break down the question in to more understandable chunks!

Uni lecturer here (not in nursing) -
Your tutors want to see that not only do you understand the model but that you are able to put it in context and see where there are faults or problems. They want you to go deeper than just describing and analysing, by bring other relevant theory into it and understanding why someone might choose or not choose to use it.
Worth remembering that 'critical' doesn't necessarily mean to be negative.

Critical analysis is about looking at something from different angles. Rather than just accepting that the biopsychosocial model is great, look into various thoughts and considerations around this. Who says it's good? Who says it's bad? Are there any known limitations? How are these managed?what other models are used to manage MS? What are their strengths/ limitations?

Then draw together into a conclusion, based on what you have learned.

Start by gathering and reading some articles/ books etc around the model itself, and it's use in MS. Get a highlighter pen and use it to remember key points.

I'm also not medical or a nurse but in addition to what @titchy said I would also imagine emphasising the individualistic nature of each patient and their lived experience is important. Eg. Can and how can the model be adapted or used to care for different patients? You could take example cases from literature to show how the model allows for multi dimensional care. Eg in this patient we can use it to focus more on x, and in this patient on x and y, and in this patient on y and z. You don't necessarily have to argue something is not a good model or for its weaknesses (unless you have a case for this). Critical thinking can also be applying it to different scenarios and thinking how it might be used in different ways and what it might mean for the patient, quality of life etc.

Or have you been given a specific patient to discuss? In which case, my advice might not be appropriate!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6177284/

@Cozyxmas I was a nurse. This would be a good article to read. It is about the importance of the BPS model and MS. Read it and think about it - do you agree that psychological and social factors are important in the management and impact of MS? Is there another model that might be useful? Which do you think is better at helping you to understand the challenges your patient might face?

Do you think that some patients might feel that they are being blamed for the severity of their symptoms if their psychological state is seen as impacting their MS experience? Might they feel that they just have 'worse' MS? Do you think care might need to be taken in explaining the BPS model to prevent this?

Just some starter questions.

Nurse lecturer here. Obviously without more detail.. it sounds like you are being asked to examine the patients care from a holistic perspective with application of the model. So, discuss the patients physical needs and care (bio), psychological needs and social needs. Read additional texts and papers for each point and show evidence of this with lots of references. As others have said, access student academic support from library services and the module leader. Access everything available to you, you are paying enough in fees so utilise the uni services

I’m a nurse. This is actually a really interesting essay. Personally, I would compare and contrast the biopsychosocial model with the biomedical model. As you probably already know, the biomedical model focuses on the biological causes of a medical problem whereas the biopsychosocial model tries to understand the psychological and social context of the problem. MS is a very “medical” illness with a defined cause and treatment. Why would knowing the social context of a patient be important? What does the biopsychosocial model add? How is this specific to nursing (patient centred care, joint decision making etc)? I hope that helps 😊

https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-023-03148-z

Here is a very recent article about psychosocial factors on the worsening of MS symptoms.

Thanks for all replies- I really struggle with this kind of stuff- you have given me lots to go on!
thanks so much !