As qualitative research becomes increasingly recognized and valued, it is imperative that it is conducted in a rigorous and methodical manner to yield meaningful and useful results. To be accepted ...

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1609406917733847

Thematic Analysis: Striving to Meet the Trustworthiness Criteria

Qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis are two commonly used approaches in data analysis of nursing research, but boundaries between the two have not been clearly specified. In other words, they are being used interchangeably and it seems difficult for the researcher to choose between them. In this respect, this paper describes and discusses the boundaries between qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis and presents implications to improve the consistency between the purpose of related studies and the method of data analyses. This is a discussion paper, comprising an analytical overview and discussion of the definitions, aims, philosophical background, data gathering, and analysis of content analysis and thematic analysis, and addressing their methodological subtleties. It is concluded that in spite of many similarities between the approaches, including cutting across data and searching for patterns and themes, their main difference lies in the opportunity for quantification of data. It means that measuring the frequency of different categories and themes is possible in content analysis with caution as a proxy for significance.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/nhs.12048

Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study

PurposeStandards for reporting exist for many types of quantitative research, but currently none exist for the broad spectrum of qualitative research. The purpose of the present study was to formulate and define standards for reporting qualitative research while preserving the requisite flexibility

/pdf/standards-for-reporting-qualitative-research-a-synthesis-of-13h0lqeqk9.pdf

Standards for reporting qualitative research: a synthesis of recommendations.

Process evaluation is an essential part of designing and testing complex interventions. New MRC guidance provides a framework for conducting and reporting process evaluation studies

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/350/bmj.h1258.full.pdf

Process evaluation of complex interventions: Medical Research Council guidance

Sustainable Development Goals

Background. Qualitative research explores complex phenomena encountered by clinicians, health care providers, policy makers and consumers. Although partial checklists are available, no consolidated reporting framework exists for any type of qualitative design. Objective. To develop a checklist for explicit and comprehensive reporting of qualitative studies (indepth interviews and focus groups). Methods. We performed a comprehensive search in Cochrane and Campbell Protocols, Medline, CINAHL, systematic reviews of qualitative studies, author or reviewer guidelines of major medical journals and reference lists of relevant publications for existing checklists used to assess qualitative studies. Seventy-six items from 22 checklists were compiled into a comprehensive list. All items were grouped into three domains: (i) research team and reflexivity, (ii) study design and (iii) data analysis and reporting. Duplicate items and those that were ambiguous, too broadly defined and impractical to assess were removed. Results. Items most frequently included in the checklists related to sampling method, setting for data collection, method of data collection, respondent validation of findings, method of recording data, description of the derivation of themes and inclusion of supporting quotations. We grouped all items into three domains: (i) research team and reflexivity, (ii) study design and (iii) data analysis and reporting. Conclusions. The criteria included in COREQ, a 32-item checklist, can help researchers to report important aspects of the research team, study methods, context of the study, findings, analysis and interpretations.

Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups

This paper addresses a fundamental question in evidence based policy making—can scientists and policy makers work together? It first provides a scenario outlining the different mentalities and imperatives of scientists and policy makers, and then discusses various issues and solutions relating to whether and how scientists and policy makers can work together. Scientists and policy makers have different goals, attitudes toward information, languages, perception of time, and career paths. Important issues affecting their working together include lack of mutual trust and respect, different views on the production and use of evidence, different accountabilities, and whether there should be a link between science and policy. The suggested solutions include providing new incentives to encourage scientists and policy makers to work together, using knowledge brokers (translational scientists), making organisational changes, defining research in a broader sense, re-defining the starting point for knowledge transfer, expanding the accountability horizon, and finally, acknowledging the complexity of policy making. It is hoped that further discussion and debate on the partnership idea, the need for incentives, recognising the incompatibility problems, the role of civil society, and other related themes will lead to new opportunities for further advancing evidence based policy and practice.

https://jech.bmj.com/content/jech/59/8/632.full.pdf

Can scientists and policy makers work together

Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ)

This paper aims to describe and analyse the ideology of the 'good death'; an ideology central to the modern hospice movement and underpinning many of the challenges to the medical management of dying and death. The development of the concept of the 'good death' will be traced from the work of the French historian, Aries, through the influential writings of Kubler-Ross, to the contemporary contributions within the sociology of dying and death. The good death concept now holds a diversity of definitions and meanings that unify around the ideal of dying with dignity, peacefulness, preparedness, awareness, adjustment and acceptance. The paper has as a central concern the dominance of the 'good death' ideology, leading to the labelling of 'good' and 'bad' patients, and consequent attempts by caregivers to shape the lives of dying people. This paper suggests that the ideology of the good death legitimates a new form of social control within which socially approved dying and death are characterized by proscribed...

Whose dying? A sociological critique of the 'good death'

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to describe the experiences of parents who have children with chronic kidney disease. METHODS. We conducted a systematic review and meta-ethnography of studies that had used in-depth interviews or focus groups to explore experiences of parents with children who have chronic kidney disease (predialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or after kidney transplantation). We searched 5 electronic databases (through to August 2005), Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Sociofile/Sociological Abstract, and reference lists of relevant articles. RESULTS. Sixteen articles that reported the experiences of parents of 358 children with chronic kidney disease were included. Ten themes emerged, which we grouped into 3 interrelated clusters: intrapersonal (living with constant uncertainty, stress, and maintaining vigilance despite experiencing fatigue), interpersonal (medicalization of the parental role, dependence on and conflict with staff, and disrupted peer relationships), and external issues (management of the medical regimen, pursuit of information, organizing transportation, accommodation and finances, adhering to the child9s liquid and diet restrictions, and balancing medical care with domestic responsibilities). CONCLUSIONS. In addition to “normal” parental roles, being a parent of a child with chronic kidney disease demands a high-level health care provider, problem solving, information seeking, and financial and practical skills at a time when the capacity to cope is threatened by physical tiredness, uncertainty, and disruption to peer support within and outside the family structure. Parents of children with chronic kidney disease need multidisciplinary care, which may lead to improved outcomes for their children.

Peter Sainsbury

Papers

Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups

Can scientists and policy makers work together

Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ)

Whose dying? A sociological critique of the 'good death'

Experiences of parents who have children with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review of qualitative studies.