Confidence Intervals.
The time intervals for the delivery of food to patients in hospitals is a critical aspect, considering the factor of visiting hours. Patients need to be given their meals in good time to avoid that clash with the visiting hours of the patients, which may lead to delays. These delays could lead to more complications in some patients’ life. This is thus a subject whose performance could be tracked by the hospitals to determine the required time of food delivery. In the same regard, loopholes that cause delays could be noted and rectified to make the system effective. The mean was the population parameter that was used. From the mean, the standard deviation, the significance value, the sample size(N), and the confidence value, the Confidence Interval (CI) was then determined (Loudermilk & Simpson, 2014). When the hospital surveyed food delivery by the clinicians, the time taken to deliver the food to all the wards were taken. The sample data for the same is as indicated below:
| Trials | Time (Min) |
| Trail 1 | 37 |
| Trial 2 | 34 |
| Trial 3 | 55 |
| Trial 4 | 34 |
| Trial 5 | 61 |
| Trial 6 | 62 |
| Trial 7 | 60 |
| Trial 8 | 65 |
| Trial 9 | 70 |
| Trial 10 | 46 |
Using the mean and confidence values; therefore, the Confidence Interval Values for 90%, 95%, and 99% were determined.
So the Confidence Interval (CI) = Mean ± Confidence Value.
CI = 52.4 ± 6.69
CI = 52.4 + 6.69 OR 52.4 – 6.69
=45.71 to 59.09
The Confidence Interval (CI) values for 90%, 95%, and 99% were then determined.
Changing the CI to 90% or 99% would have adverse effects on the study, as 90% gives a much narrower CI, and 99% gives a wider CI difference between the upper and lower limits. The 90% value would thus best suit the Confidence Level according to this study. Presenting this to the people in charge, they would be informed that they ought to take a minimum of 45 minutes and a maximum of 59 minutes to deliver food to all the wards. This will avoid a time clash with other activities, and hence all the patients will get their food delivered in good time.
Reference.
Liu, X. S., Loudermilk, B., & Simpson, T. (2014). Introduction to sample size choice for confidence intervals based on t statistics. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 18(2), 91-100.
References.