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Reporting quantitative information in qualitative research: Guidance for authors and reviewers
... For example, Participant 1 is represented by nine quotes from their interview in Theme 1. The quantification of qualitative data provided numerous benefits (Monrouxe & Rees, 2020), underscoring patterns, and thereby meaning within the data, as well as the frequency and strength of findings (Neale et al., 2014). Neale et al. (2014) Teaching and Supervision in Counseling 2024 Vol 6, Iss 1 provided five suggestions for reporting quantitative information from qualitative data, such as reporting data in a way that allows for participant comparison, avoiding the use of percentages with a sample less than 50, and providing justification for the use of quantifying terms like most or minority. ...
... The quantification of qualitative data provided numerous benefits (Monrouxe & Rees, 2020), underscoring patterns, and thereby meaning within the data, as well as the frequency and strength of findings (Neale et al., 2014). Neale et al. (2014) Teaching and Supervision in Counseling 2024 Vol 6, Iss 1 provided five suggestions for reporting quantitative information from qualitative data, such as reporting data in a way that allows for participant comparison, avoiding the use of percentages with a sample less than 50, and providing justification for the use of quantifying terms like most or minority. For this study, quantifying the TA findings allowed us to explore possible relationships between or explanations for a CIT's level of CC and their perceptions of and experiences with their counselor trainee peers. ...
... Instead, semiquantification terms were utilised to present the study findings (e.g. some, most, several, many) (Neale, Miller, & West, 2014). Semi-quantification terms allowed the researchers to suggest a vaguely distinct range of numbers. ...
... Semi-quantification terms allowed the researchers to suggest a vaguely distinct range of numbers. Also, through this approach the researchers were able to identify consistencies and underline idiosyncrasies within the narratives (Neale et al., 2014). It is important to note that using such an approach does not mean that the findings can be generalised beyond the study sample. ...
Young people in countries such as South Africa are finding it difficult to make a successful school-to-work transition. This is exacerbated by high unemployment and uncertainty in the labour market. The South African government appears to be trying to implement a range of strategies and approaches to try and assist unemployed graduates. However, the onus is also on the graduate to look for ways in dealing with the uncertain labour market. The purpose of this research was to investigate the labour market transition and experiences of unemployed graduates within the context of high unemployment in South Africa. The research utilised an interpretivist philosophy hinging on the qualitative approach, and it used an exploratory research design. Further, a longitudinal technique was employed, tracing over a period of two years the labour market experiences and transitions of a sample of 30 graduates who had been enrolled at a historically disadvantaged higher education institution in South Africa. Data was collected from focus group discussions and unstructured individual interviews over this two-year period. The findings obtained through structural narrative analysis revealed that the labour market transition and experiences of the unemployed graduates were not negative only; some of the graduates had used their own resourceful techniques to deal with challenges. Based on the findings of the research and in view of the uncertain labour market, suggestions were made that would have resonance for not only individuals but also policymakers, career counsellors and institutions of higher learning.
... Finally, some authors have applied quantitative analytic techniques to qualitative studies, such as quantification of content analysis (Elo & Kyngäs, 2008;Hsieh & Shannon, 2005) or exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (Awang, Afthanorhan, Mohamad, & Asri, 2015;Finch, 2020). While these methods extend beyond simple word counting (Hsieh & Shannon, 2005), they have been criticised as a quantification of qualitative research (Monrouxe & Rees, 2020), either for the purpose of appearing objective (Chivanga, 2016), because researches have not fully ascribed to tenets of 44 qualitative research (Chivanga, 2016;Neale, Miller, & West, 2014) or for the purpose of persuading a potential audience, such as journal editors of quantitative disciplines, such as health sciences, of the merit of qualitative research, in what Hannah and Lautsch refer to as the 'multiple audience problem' (Hannah & Lautsch, 2011). ...
... This research has therefore taken a primarily qualitative analytic approach, but analysis and interpretation was guided by the principles described by Neale (Neale et al., 2014) by limiting inferences about prevalence, restraining quantification to analyses of the entire sample, limiting the use of percentages in small population samples, and the qualified application of semi-quantification, such as the use of words like 'minority'. ...
This research explores why specialists undertake further training in advanced gynaecological surgery, how and why such training pathways develop and how they are regulated. This research advocated for the acceptance of alternative training pathways and shaped postgraduate medical education and workforce planning. Through a mixed-methods approach, this thesis constructs a historical timeline as the foundation for a critical analysis of the professionalization of operative gynaecology and establishes the main reasons for advanced training as the development of surgical competency, recognition, certification, and involvement in academic activities, emphasizing the training unit, surgical case load, a structured curriculum and peer group.
... In this paper, we often semi-quantify differences and similarities in themes that we identified (e.g. describing direction of trends) to provide greater clarity and improve the transparency of results, but we avoided listing specific frequencies because it could misrepresent the data, for example if a recruiter raises a topic inconsistently across consultations, and it could also detract from the detailed and nuanced data collected that we comment on [35]. ...
Background
Patients from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are underserved in randomised controlled trials, yet they experience a much greater burden of disease compared with patients from socioeconomically advantaged areas. It is crucial to make trials more inclusive to ensure that treatments and interventions are safe and effective in real-world contexts. Improving how information about trials is verbally communicated is an unexplored strategy to make trials more inclusive. This study examined how trials are communicated verbally, comparing consultations involving patients from the most and least socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
Methods
Secondary qualitative analysis of 55 trial consultation transcripts from 41 patients, sampled from 3 qualitative studies embedded in their respective UK multi-site, cancer-related randomised controlled trials. Patients living in the most and least socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, defined using English Indices of Multiple Deprivation decile scores, were purposively sampled. Analysis was largely thematic and drew on the constant comparison method.
Results
Recruiters communicated clinical uncertainty in a similar way for patients living in different socioeconomic areas. Consultations with disadvantaged patients were, on average, half the duration of those with advantaged patients, and tended to involve recruiters providing less in-depth explanations of trial concepts, used phrasing that softened trial arm risks, and described trial processes (e.g. randomisation) using informal or metaphorical phrasing. Disadvantaged and advantaged patients differed in the concerns they expressed; disadvantaged patients voiced fewer concerns and asked fewer questions but were also less likely to be invited to do so by recruiters.
Conclusion
Interactions about trials unfolded in different ways between patients living in different socioeconomic areas, likely due to both patient- and recruiter-related factors. We present considerations for recruiters when discussing trials with patients from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, aimed at enhancing trial communication. Future research should examine disadvantaged patients’ and recruiters’ experiences of verbal trial communication to inform guidance that addresses the needs and preferences of underserved groups.
... Therefore, descriptors have J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Journal Pre-proof SMART Family and Friends: feasibility and outcomes 10 been used rather than numeration when describing qualitative findings. This is consistent with the broader literature as inference cannot be drawn regarding the prevalence of observations in the current sample, beyond the sample itself (Neale et al., 2014). ...
Please cite this article as: C.M. Rushton, P.J. Kelly, T. Thomas, et al., SMART Family and Friends: Feasibility and outcomes of a video-conference delivered intervention for families impacted by another's methamphetamine use, (2023), https://doi.
... In line with the recommendation of Neale and West (2015), we have avoided quantifying the qualitative findings. Instead, a form of semi-quantification has been adopted, using terms such as "a few", "several", "some", "many" and "most" in order to achieve maximum transparency with regard to the numbers of people giving particular responses or types of response (Neale et al., 2014). ...
Background: The Welsh Government has commissioned a number of projects to consider the influence their implementation of Minimum Pricing for Alcohol (MPA) legislation in March 2020 had on the alcohol consumption and related behaviours of drinkers. Given the MPA's overlap with the COVID-19 pandemic and its related lockdown measures and restrictions, this rapidly became a story about the early impact of COVID-19 as it did MPA. This paper captures the core thematic messages from this specific strand of work, and in doing so reflects on (1) how early experiences of COVID-19 and the first lockdown influenced consumption and purchasing of alcohol behaviours and, in turn, (2) how relevant the introduction of MPA was for any of these. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone with 32 drinkers 9 months after the implementation of the legislation in March 2020. The sample was recruited from three sources: the National Survey for Wales; a third sector organisation offering housing support to the homeless; and through an online survey on MPA. Results: COVID-19 had more relevance than MPA to drinkers. Furthermore, when MPA did have an influence on their behaviour, it was felt most keenly by the harmful drinkers in the study. These drinkers described spending more on alcohol, switching to other potentially more harmful substances, such as crack cocaine and synthetic cannabinoids, and more involvement in acquisitive crime and begging after the price increase. While our results might be an early indication of the influence of MPA on harmful drinkers, the small sample of this group in our study limits the generalisability of the findings. Conclusion: To date, the implementation of MPA has had little influence on the drinking patterns or lives of the drinkers in our sample. It is important that future research examines the longer-term influences of MPA before any conclusions on its effectiveness can be drawn.
... Findings have been reported using a participant number and gender. The terms 'few', 'some' and 'most' have been used to describe data to reflect the level of agreement and discussion about themes (Neale et al., 2014). Key quotes have been selected to illustrate the findings. ...
Bullying behaviour often increases in late childhood and peaks in early adolescence. While interventions to address bullying behaviour typically encourage students to report bullying incidents to school staff, students are often reluctant to report incidents for fear it will worsen their situation or because they lack confidence in a staff members’ ability to intervene effectively. This study explores school staff responses to student reports of bullying behaviour. School staff were recruited from Catholic and Independent schools in Perth, Western Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with school staff ( n = 19) working with students in grades four to six (approximately 8–12 years). A thematic analysis of the data was undertaken with the assistance of qualitative data analysis software NVivo. Staff reported a variety of responses to student reports of bullying incidents. Responses involved bullying targets, bullying perpetrators and the school community. School and individual factors found to influence staff responses included life experiences, adequate time to deal with bullying and the influence of colleagues. Suggested strategies to improve staff responses were clear school policies and procedures, scheduled times to deal with student reports, databases to record bullying incidents and professional development for school staff.
... In the Results section, when referring to specific participants, we use an anonymous designation made up of an abbreviation based on the participant's group (LE for Lived Experience, P for Public and C for Clinicians) and the participant's interview number. Quantifiers are used sparingly and mostly qualitatively (e.g. a few, some, several, many) consistent with recommendations made in qualitative research on addiction (Neale et al., 2014). Quantification is used in the tables to identify trends which are then explored qualitatively in the text. ...
The legalization of cannabis in Canada instantiates principles of harm-reduction and safe supply. However, in-depth understanding of values at stake and attitudes toward legalization were not part of extensive democratic deliberation. Through a qualitative exploratory study, we undertook 48 semi-structured interviews with three Canadian stakeholder groups to explore opinions and values with respect to the legalization of cannabis: (1) members of the general public, (2) people with lived experience of addiction and (3) clinicians with experience treating patients with addiction. Across all groups, participants tended to be in favor of legalization, but particular opinions rested on their viewpoint as stakeholders. Clinicians considered the way legalization would affect an individual’s health and its potential for increasing rates of addiction on a larger scale. People with lived experience of addiction cited personal autonomy more than other groups and stressed the need to have access to quality information to make truly informed decisions. Alternatively, members of the public considered legalization positive or negative in light of whether one’s addiction affected others. We elaborate on and discuss how scientific evidence about drug use impact values relates and how can different arguments play in democratic debates about legalization.
... Addressing research subquestions 3 and 4 regarding formative evaluation of the module design, here we summarize selected insights from both module implementations regarding the development of participant CK, PCK as well as attitudes, motivation, interest, confidence, and associated implications in terms of challenges and opportunities, across various data collection methods (see Table 4). Given the exploratory nature and small sample size of our study, we follow recommendations by [103][104][105] and provide quantitative and semi-quantitative information of qualitative data when this serves to highlight general patterns and helps to support our conclusions, and we highlight that these patterns can not necessarily be generalized beyond our sample. All qualitative data that is described here has been translated from German into English. ...
Numerous studies indicate that evolutionary concepts can and should be taught at the primary school level. However, teaching evolution in primary school is presumably not yet the norm globally. At the same time, the educational potential of evolutionary concepts lies in their applicability to many curriculum topics in the natural and social sciences. Capitalizing on this potential requires broad teacher content knowledge (CK) and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) about the teaching of evolutionary concepts. However, not much is known regarding ways to develop primary teacher CK and PCK during pre-service training. In this article, we present the iterative design, implementation, and mixed methods formative evaluation (based on a design-based research framework) of a pre-service teacher education module. Its aim was to promote the development of pre-service primary school teacher CK, PCK, as well as motivation and confidence for teaching evolution across the primary school curriculum. Results indicate that pre-service teachers can be supported and motivated to teach evolutionary concepts across various themes in the primary school curriculum through a semester long course. Participants were able to develop core aspects of CK and PCK regarding the teaching of evolutionary concepts in primary school. The resulting module design integrates existing collective PCK on teaching evolution at the primary level as well as novel design considerations and teaching approaches that can be integrated into pre-service teacher education programs. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the integration of evolutionary concepts in mandated curriculum standards such that the educational potential of evolution can be fully capitalized on by teachers.
... All participant perspectives, even if just stated by one participant, were considered themes. Semi-quantification words like "most" and "some" provide readers with some indication of how often a concept or theme appeared across interviews but without sharing numbers that could be misinterpreted as generalizable [25]. Findings were organized to identify patient-perceived facilitators and barriers to accessing and navigating HCC treatment and care. ...
Background:
Many patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) never receive cancer-directed therapy. In order to tailor interventions to increase access to appropriate therapy, we sought to understand the barriers and facilitators to HCC care.
Methods:
Patients with recently diagnosed HCC were identified through the University of North Carolina (UNC) HCC clinic or local hospital cancer registrars (rapid case ascertainment, RCA). Two qualitative researchers conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded.
Results:
Nineteen interviews were conducted (10 UNC, 9 RCA). Key facilitators of care were: physician knowledge; effective communication regarding test results, plan of care, and prognosis; social support; and financial support. Barriers included: lack of transportation; cost of care; provider lack of knowledge about HCC; delays in scheduling; or poor communication with the medical team. Participants suggested better coordination of appointments and having a primary contact within the healthcare team.
Limitations:
We primarily captured the perspectives of those HCC patients who, despite the challenges they describe, were ultimately able to receive HCC care.
Conclusions:
This study identifies key facilitators and barriers to accessing care for HCC in North Carolina. Use of the RCA system to identify patients from a variety of settings, treated and untreated, enabled us to capture a broad range of perspectives. Reducing barriers through improving communication and care coordination, assisting with out-of-pocket costs, and engaging caregivers and other medical providers may improve access. This study should serve as the basis for tailored interventions aimed at improving access to appropriate, life-prolonging care for patients with HCC.
... A narrative of the identified barriers and facilitators to participation in prehabilitation is provided per COM-B component. Barriers and facilitators are presented regardless of the number of studies in which they were described as the frequency of reporting is primarily due to the design and methods used and cannot be used as an indicator of importance [34]. ...
Background
Prehabilitation offers patients the opportunity to actively participate in their perioperative care by preparing themselves for their upcoming surgery. Experiencing barriers may lead to non-participation, which can result in a reduced functional capacity, delayed post-operative recovery and higher healthcare costs. Insight in the barriers and facilitators to participation in prehabilitation can inform further development and implementation of prehabilitation. The aim of this review was to identify patient-experienced barriers and facilitators for participation in prehabilitation.
Methods
For this mixed methods systematic review, articles were searched in PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they contained data on patient-reported barriers and facilitators to participation in prehabilitation in adults undergoing major surgery. Following database search, and title and abstract screening, full text articles were screened for eligibility and quality was assessed using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Relevant data from the included studies were extracted, coded and categorized into themes, using an inductive approach. Based on these themes, the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behaviour (COM-B) model was chosen to classify the identified themes.
Results
Three quantitative, 14 qualitative and 6 mixed methods studies, published between 2007 and 2022, were included in this review. A multitude of factors were identified across the different COM-B components. Barriers included lack of knowledge of the benefits of prehabilitation and not prioritizing prehabilitation over other commitments (psychological capability), physical symptoms and comorbidities (physical capability), lack of time and limited financial capacity (physical opportunity), lack of social support (social opportunity), anxiety and stress (automatic motivation) and previous experiences and feeling too fit for prehabilitation (reflective motivation). Facilitators included knowledge of the benefits of prehabilitation (psychological capability), having access to resources (physical opportunity), social support and encouragement by a health care professional (social support), feeling a sense of control (automatic motivation) and beliefs in own abilities (reflective motivation).
Conclusions
A large number of barriers and facilitators, influencing participation in prehabilitation, were found across all six COM-B components. To reach all patients and to tailor prehabilitation to the patient’s needs and preferences, it is important to take into account patients’ capability, opportunity and motivation.
Trial registration
Registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021250273) on May 18th, 2021.
... Presenting findings quantitatively (eg, "We found 18 instances of participants mentioning safety concerns about the vaccines") is generally undesirable in practical thematic analysis reporting. 51 Descriptive terms are more appropriate (eg, "participants had substantial concerns about the vaccines," or "several participants were concerned about this"). This descriptive presentation is critical because qualitative data might not be consistently elicited across participants, meaning that some individuals might share certain information while others do not, simply based on how conversations evolve. ...
... For data analysis, we applied the thematic analysis method [24]. Where the finding was not reported by all interviewed stakeholders, we used non-specific terms such as 'a few' , 'several' , 'some' , or 'many' for the semi-quantification [25]. ...
Background
Routine adolescent health screening aiming at the detection of unnoticed medical problems may increase awareness among policy makers and contribute to improved health in this population. Research is needed to inform the World Health Organization (WHO) and national health programs to provide evidence-based guidance on whether public health systems should offer comprehensive adolescent health screening, what should be included in different contexts, and how it should be delivered. We conducted formative research to define the content and delivery strategies for health check-ups to be performed in young (10–14 years) and older (15–19 years) adolescents, and to assess whether such services are likely to be acceptable and feasible in Tanzania.
Methods
As part of a collaborative research program coordinated by WHO in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe; Mwanza City, Tanzania; and Cape Coast, Ghana a series of key informant interviews were conducted from April to July 2020, using a semi-structured guide with purposively selected stakeholders from government departments, non-governmental and community-based organisations, schools and health facilities. Data transcripts were coded using NVivo 12 software and thematic analysis was performed.
Results
We report results from 31 key informant interviews to address four main domains: proposed health conditions for routine health check-ups, health interventions to be combined with such check-ups, preferable venues, and the mode for delivering such screening activities. Stakeholders were supportive of introducing routine health check-ups among adolescents. They recommended focusing on non-communicable diseases, physical disabilities, common mental health problems, reproductive health problems, specific communicable diseases, and hygiene-related problems. They also recommended combining counselling and family planning information with these check-ups. Three venues were proposed: schools, community settings (to reach out-of-school adolescents), and youth-friendly health facilities (for conditions requiring a high level of confidentiality).
Conclusions
Stakeholders were supportive of the proposed routine health check-ups for adolescents, recommending specific health conditions to be screened for in both community and school settings. Based on the above, we plan to conduct implementation research to determine the number of new treatable conditions detected, and the costs of offering such services. In the longer term, evaluation of their health impact and cost-effectiveness will be required to guide policy.
... Current best practices for qualitative research discourage the quantitative analysis of thematic data from samples less than 50; as such, we do not present quantitative data on the prevalence of individual codes in this study. 23 ...
Background:
Jails in the United States are required to provide health care to the over 10 million people entering jails each year, a significant portion of whom need medications. Yet little is known about the processes by which medications are prescribed, obtained, and administered to incarcerated persons in jails.
Objective:
To describe medication access, policy, and procedures in jails.
Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with administrators and health workers from 34 jails (of 125 contacted) across 5 states in the southeastern United States. The interview guide covered all aspects of healthcare in jails from entry to release; however, the present study focused on responses relating to medications. Interviews were thematically coded using a combination of deductive and inductive coding guided by the research objective.
Results:
Four processes described medication use chronologically from intake to release: jail entry and health screening, pharmacy and medication protocols, protocols specific to medication dispensing and administration, and medications at release. Many jails had procedures for using medications brought from home, though some declined to use these medications. Medication decision-making in jails was primarily performed by contracted healthcare providers, and most medications were obtained from contract pharmacies. Almost all jails banned narcotics; however, other medication restrictions varied by jail. Most jails charged a copay for medications. Participants discussed various privacy practices related to medication distribution, as well as approaches to diversion prevention including "crushing and floating" medications. Finally, the pre-release medication management process included transition planning that ranged from no planning to sending additional prescriptions to the patient's pharmacy.
Conclusions:
Medication access, protocols, and procedures in jails varies considerably, and there is a need for further adoption of existing standards and guidelines for the use of medications in jails, such as the Assess, Plan, Identify, and Coordinate (APIC) model of community re-entry.
... Furthermore, differences in the prevalence of RHBs for refill at home offerings with and without services were noted. In order to offer transparency, give precision to statements, enable patterns in the data to emerge with greater clarity, and increase the meaning of key findings, the distribution of RHBs and RHB combinations in the dataset is presented in graphical form alongside the qualitative findings (Monrouxe and Rees, 2020;Neale et al., 2014). Each case was coded according to a scheme including both the basic RHBs and the RHB combinations. ...
... QCA also includes the use of frequencies (i.e. semiquantification), which can highlight the relevance of the identified themes and categories and are essential in a mixed-methods analysis [59,60]. QCA thus allows for a juxtaposition of answers provided by different target groups (e.g. ...
Background:
Contextual factors are essential for understanding long-term adjustment to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the present study investigated changes in mental health outcomes and subjective pandemic-related experiences over time and across countries. The main objective was to explore how psychological responses vary in relation to individual and environmental factors.
Methods:
The sample consisted of N = 1070 participants from the general population of Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, and Portugal. We applied a longitudinal mixed-methods approach, with baseline assessment in summer and autumn 2020 (T1) and follow-up assessment 12 months later (T2). Qualitative content analysis by Mayring was used to analyse open-ended questions about stressful events, positive and negative aspects of the pandemic, and recommendations on how to cope. Mental health outcomes were assessed with the Adjustment Disorder-New Module 8 (ADNM-8), the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5), the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), and the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). The analyses were performed with SPSS Statistics Version 26 and MAXQDA 2022.
Results:
The mental health outcomes significantly differed over time and across countries, with e.g. Greek participants showing decrease in adjustment disorder symptoms (p = .007) between T1 and T2. Compared with other countries, we found better mental health outcomes in the Austrian and the Croatian sample at both timepoints (p < .05). Regarding qualitative data, some themes were equally represented at both timepoints (e.g. Restrictions and changes in daily life), while others were more prominent at T1 (e.g. Work and finances) or T2 (e.g. Vaccination issues).
Conclusions:
Our findings indicate that people's reactions to the pandemic are largely shaped by the shifting context of the pandemic, country-specific factors, and individual characteristics and circumstances. Resource-oriented interventions focusing on psychological flexibility might promote resilience and mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and other global crises.
... [69] However, in this study due to the flow of interviews, not all participants had an equal opportunity to express a particular point of view. [70] In the focus group interview, when a participant raised a point or opinion other participants sometimes clearly stated their agreement or disagreement while some engaged by simply nodding in agreement. The fact that one participant already stated a point sometimes meant that others did not feel the need to repeat it, but this was not necessarily reflective of their position regarding the point being made. ...
Background:
Virtual Reality (VR) is an immersive computer-generated environment that provides a multi-sensory experience for the user. Modern technology allows the user to explore and interact with the virtual environment, offering opportunities for rehabilitation. The use of immersive VR in the management of musculoskeletal shoulder pain is relatively new and research is required to demonstrate its feasibility and effectiveness in this field.
Aim:
The aims of this study were, firstly, to explore physiotherapists' beliefs and perspectives of immersive VR as a platform for rehabilitation in patients with musculoskeletal shoulder pain, secondly, to identify potential barriers and facilitators to using VR in a musculoskeletal setting and thirdly, to gain insight from clinicians that would inform the development of a VR intervention for the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal shoulder pain.
Methods:
This study used qualitative descriptive design methodology. A series of three focus group interviews were carried out, via Microsoft Teams. Physiotherapists received an Oculus Quest™ headset to use at home prior to the focus group interviews. A six-phase process of reflexive thematic analysis was carried out to identify themes within the data. Atlas Ti Qualitative Data Analysis software was used to facilitate thematic analysis.
Results:
Five themes were identified within the data. They reflected physiotherapists beliefs that VR provides novel opportunities for shoulder rehabilitation and may offer new avenues for managing movement-related fear and improving concordance with rehabilitation. However, barriers related to safety and practical considerations associated with using VR were also identified in the final themes.
Conclusion:
These findings provide valuable insight into clinician acceptability of immersive VR as a platform for rehabilitation and the need for further research to answer the questions posed by physiotherapists in the current study. This research will contribute to human-centered design of VR-supported interventions for managing musculoskeletal shoulder pain.
... Given our purposeful selection criteria (i.e., representatives from more-and less-prepared jurisdictions) and self-selection into the pool of potential interviewees, analysis focused on describing the range of responses that were expressed (Levitt, 2018;Maxwell, 2010;Neale et al., 2014). This included efforts to identify common responses and to examine whether findings were different between the more-prepared and lessprepared jurisdictions. ...
On July 16, 2022, the 988 mental health crisis hotline launched nationwide. In addition to preparing for an increase in call volume, many jurisdictions used the launch of 988 as an opportunity to examine their full continuum of emergency mental health care. Our goal was to understand the characteristics of jurisdictions’ existing continuums of care, identify factors that distinguished jurisdictions that were more- versus less-prepared for 988, and explore perceived strengths and limitations of the planning process. We conducted 15 qualitative interviews with state and local mental health program directors representing 10 states based on their preparedness for the 988 rollout. Interviews focused on 988 call centers, mobile crisis response, and crisis stabilization, as well as strengths and limitations of the 988 planning process. Data were analyzed using rapid qualitative analysis, an approach designed to draw insights on evolving processes and extract actionable findings. Interviewees from jurisdictions that reported that they were more-prepared for the launch of 988 tended to have local 988 call centers and already had local access to mobile crisis teams and crisis stabilization units. Interviewees across jurisdictions described challenges to offering a robust continuum of crisis services, including workforce shortages and geographic constraints. Though jurisdictions acknowledged the importance of integrating peer support staff and serving diverse populations, many perceived room for growth in these areas. Though 988 has launched, efforts to bolster the existing continuum will continue and hinge on efforts to expand the behavioral health workforce, engage diverse partners, and collect relevant data.
... As little is known about the multi-part nature of UBTE professional identity, this early exploration describes what UBTEs said and gives readers an idea of how prevalent that idea was in this data, to build a picture of how frequently UBTEs have multiple parts of their professional identity (Maxwell 2010). Additionally, the frequencies help identify possible patterns based on context, making it easier to compare data from the provincial normal universities and firstclass normal universities (Neale, Miller, and West 2014). The frequencies provided in the results section below are intended to add to the picture provided by the themes from participants' interviews, rather than to validate them. ...
University-based teacher educators (UBTEs) are critical to teacher education quality. Studies have mainly explored the professional identity of UBTEs who were previously schoolteachers, whereas less is known about those who followed academic pathways. This study examines how UBTEs perceive their identities in the Chinese context, where academic pathways are common. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 purposively sampled participants from two university types: first-class normal universities, and provincial normal universities. Five identities aligned with previous research: teacher in a higher education institution; researcher; teacher of teachers; collaborator; and coach. Three new identities emerged from the data: teacher of tradition; questioner; and doctoral student. Similarities and differences in identity perception were also discovered between university types. This study suggests the complexity of being a UBTE is shaped by institutional context, national and cultural milieu, and the nature of teacher education work, and concludes with recommendations for teacher education programmes.
... The results were discussed with a patient-representative to enhance the trustworthiness of the data and the relevance for the patient group as a whole, leading to some changes in the description of subthemes. Semi-quantification was used to express relative importance of terms [34]. A 'few' was defined as two or three, 'several' as four to seven, 'many' as eight or more, and 'nearly all' as more than 20. ...
Purpose
Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTI) are potentially lethal infections marked by local tissue destruction and systemic sepsis, which require aggressive treatment. Survivors often face a long recovery trajectory. This study was initiated to increase understanding of the long-term impact of NSTI on health related quality of life (HRQoL), and how care may be improved.
Methods
Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data from 25 NSTI-survivors obtained through two focus groups (n = 14) and semi-structured interviews (n = 11).
Results
The median age of the participants was 49 years, 14 were female. The median time since diagnosis was 5 years. Initial misdiagnosis was common, causing delay to treatment. Survivors experienced long-term physical consequences (scarring, cognitive impairment, fatigue, sleeping problems, recurrent infections), psychological consequences (traumatic stress symptoms, fear of relapse, adjusting to an altered appearance, sexual issues) and social and relational consequences (changes in social contacts, a lack of understanding). The disease also had a major psychological impact on family members, as well as major financial impact in some. There was a strong desire to reflect on ‘mistakes’ in case of initial misdiagnosis. To improve care, patient and family centered care, smooth transitions after discharge, and the availability of understandable information were deemed important.
Conclusion
This study reveals that NSTI have a large impact on physical and psychosocial wellbeing of survivors and their relatives. Except for a few differences (misdiagnosis, fear for re-infection and actual re-infection), the patient experience of patients with NSTI is largely similar to those of burn survivors. Thus, questionnaires to assess HRQoL in burn survivors may be used in future NSTI studies.
... A range of accompanying subthemes and sub-sub themes highlighted the salient commonalities, providing a rich illustration of their attitudes and positions. Consistent with established conventions reported in qualitative research, semiquantitative terms (e.g., few, some, many) were used to show patterns of regularities, distinctiveness, and idiosyncrasies in the participant's use of language (Neale et al., 2014). ...
¿Habrá una voluntad de comprometerse realmente con ella?: Explorando las actitudes hacia la psicoterapia de integración cultural entre la comunidad africana de Canadá
El enfoque agregado de equidad en salud y discursos multiculturalismo en psicología aplicada y becas ha despertado un nuevo interés en explorar cómo los sistemas tradicionales de curación podría mejorar el bienestar de grupos culturalmente diversos a través de sistemas de curación culturalmente integrados. Si bien los desarrollos emergentes agregan credibilidad a las prácticas de larga data, es fundamental reconocer los elementos de hegemonía cultural y racismo antinegro que influyen los sistemas de valores occidentales y las jerarquías de validación. Reconociendo el relación tumultuosa compartida por África y el Occidente, esta investigación utilizó un marco poscolonial para explorar cómo la comunidad africana de Canadá podría responder a los esfuerzos para integrar culturalmente las tradiciones curativas africanas y los sistemas psicoterapéuticos occidental. Se analizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas con 10 participantes utilizando un enfoque crítico basado en la metodología de la teoría fundamentada constructivista. Mientras que la mayoría de los participantes vieron los esfuerzos de integración terapéutica como beneficiosos para la comunidad africana, los resultados mostraron que varios factores de resistencias internas y externas subyacentes podrían afectar la forma en que la comunidad recibe y se involucra con la intervención. Llamando la atención sobre las realidades que enfrenta la comunidad africana de Canadá, los hallazgos comienzan a señalar algunos de los factores agravantes que impiden el acceso a la salud mental y avances de equidad para la comunidad africana en Canadá. Esta investigación también se suma a discursos relevantes para el multiculturalismo, la teoría crítica, la decolonialidad y la justicia social en psicología aplicada y otras disciplinas afines.
... Finally, we produced a table with frequencies for each category. Different types of qualitative analyses have employed this approach in the past, to help introduce a ''weighting'' between different themes and categories, particularly when it comes to amplifying service user experiences and highlighting priorities for practice change [43][44][45][46] (corresponding to those categories with the highest frequency in the data). ...
Background:
There are a few ecologically valid measurements of Daily Living Skills (DLS)-a critical component of adaptive functioning (AF)-for autistic adolescents and young adults. This is particularly important given that DLS predict outcomes as autistic adolescents transition to adulthood.
Methods:
We pilot-tested the assessment section of two modules of the Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training program (CFSAT) in 25 autistic (n = 4 female) and 25 non-autistic (n = 6 female) adolescents and young adults to evaluate preliminary feasibility in an autistic sample. Tasks involved using an ATM and ticket-buying machine. We also assessed AF and DLS with a well-validated self-report questionnaire. We examined group differences in performance and relationships between performance on CFSAT and an existing measure of AF and DLS. We also conducted regression analyses to investigate the associations between age, IQ, executive functioning (EF), and CFSAT task performance.
Results:
All but one autistic participant were able to complete the CFSAT tasks. Autistic participants made more errors, but did not take longer to complete the task, than non-autistic participants. Performance correlated strongly with self-reported AF generally and DLS specifically. The regression analyses revealed that task performance was associated with EF in the autistic group, but not the non-autistic group.
Conclusions:
These results provide preliminary support for the use of a new performance-based ecologically valid assessment of DLS in an autistic population. Two CFSAT modules were well-tolerated and detected differences in DLS ability. Strong correlations with an existing measure of AF suggest evidence of construct validity. The EF was associated with CFSAT task performance in autistic individuals. Such a tool could help identify individuals who would benefit from a DLS intervention.
... Finally, we produced a table with frequencies for each category. Different types of qualitative analyses have employed this approach in the past, to help introduce a "weighting" between different themes and categories, particularly when it comes to amplifying service user experiences and highlighting priorities for practice change [43][44][45][46] (corresponding to those categories with the highest frequency in the data). ...
Background:
Autistic individuals might undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination for clinical concerns or research. Increased sensory stimulation, lack of appropriate environmental adjustments, or lack of streamlined communication in the MRI suite may pose challenges to autistic patients and render MRI scans inaccessible. This study aimed at (i) exploring the MRI scan experiences of autistic adults in the United Kingdom; (ii) identifying barriers and enablers toward successful and safe MRI examinations; (iii) assessing autistic individuals' satisfaction with MRI service; and (iv) informing future recommendations for practice improvement.
Methods:
We distributed an online survey to the autistic community on social media, using snowball sampling. Inclusion criteria were: being older than 16, have an autism diagnosis or self-diagnosis, self-reported capacity to consent, and having had an MRI scan in the United Kingdom. We used descriptive statistics for demographics, inferential statistics for group comparisons/correlations, and content analysis for qualitative data.
Results:
We received 112 responses. A total of 29.6% of the respondents reported not being sent any information before the scan. Most participants (68%) confirmed that radiographers provided detailed information on the day of the examination, but only 17.1% reported that radiographers offered some reasonable environmental adjustments. Only 23.2% of them confirmed they disclosed their autistic identity when booking MRI scanning. We found that quality of communication, physical environment, patient emotions, staff training, and confounding societal factors impacted their MRI experiences. Autistic individuals rated their overall MRI experience as neutral and reported high levels of claustrophobia (44.8%).
Conclusion:
This study highlighted a lack of effective communication and coordination of care, either between health care services or between patients and radiographers, and lack of reasonable adjustments as vital for more accessible and person-centered MRI scanning for autistic individuals. Enablers of successful scans included effective communication, adjusted MRI environment, scans tailored to individuals' needs/preferences, and well-trained staff.
... There are also some limitations. Due to the qualitative nature of our results, our study generated themes, issues, perspectives, and ideas that have societal relevance, but it was not meant to provide an external representative quantification 61 . Demographics, biomedical interventions, and time may play a role in QoL and stigma experienced now, compared to past experiences. ...
This qualitative study aimed to explore the experienced influence of HIV on the quality of life (QoL) of people with HIV (PHIV) and key populations without but are vulnerable to HIV in the Netherlands. We conducted and thematically analyzed interviews with 29 PHIV and 13 participants from key populations without HIV (i.e., men who have sex with men). PHIV and key populations shared positive meaningful experiences regarding HIV, i.e., feeling grateful for ART, life, and the availability of PrEP, being loved and supported in the light of HIV, and providing support to the community. Negative predominant experiences regarding HIV were described by both PHIV and key populations as the negative effects of ART, challenges with regards to disclosing HIV, social stigmatization, and self-stigma. It remains important to support HIV community organizations in their efforts to reduce social stigmatization and to continue improving biomedical interventions for HIV.
... All transcript extracts have an identifier designating role type ('CLIN' [clinical] or 'PSW') and a unique participant number (e.g., CLIN-123). Semi-quantifiers were used to indicate the proportion of participants associated with a given coding element (Neale et al., 2014): few (n = 1-3/15); some (n = 4-7/15); half (n = 8/15); many (n = 9-11/15); most (n = 12-14/15); and all (n = 15). ...
Mental health services are increasingly incorporating the views and expertise of people with a lived experience of mental illness in service delivery. A novel approach to this is the ‘integrated staffing model’ being trialled at two Australian public residential mental health rehabilitation services (Community Care Units, CCUs) where peer support workers (PSWs) occupy the majority of staff roles and work alongside clinicians. Semi-structured interviews were completed with fifteen staff 12-to-18-months after service commencement. Transcripts were analysed following principles of grounded theory analysis. Key emergent themes were: (1) recovery is a deeply personal and non-linear process; (2) The CCU as a transitional learning environment; (3) the integrated staffing model facilitates an effective rehabilitation team; and (4) coming together under the integrated staffing model required a steep learning curve. The findings suggest that the integrated staffing approach may provide a pathway to facilitate the meaningful inclusion of PSWs in rehabilitation settings.
... Quantizing data, which we undertake to allow additional interpretation, is common within mixed-methods research but should be done with care in order to avoid reducing qualitative data to numeric information (19). As such, we follow guidelines for quantizing qualitative data, including those established by Neale and colleagues (26), including that quantizing should only be done for "features that have been assessed for all the participants in a manner that allows for comparison" (p. 109). ...
Youth worldwide are struggling with increased mental health concerns. As youth in low- and middle-income countries make up more than 20% of the world’s population, finding ways to improve their psychosocial wellbeing is crucial. CorStone’s Youth First program is a school-based psychosocial resilience program that seeks to improve the mental, physical, social, and educational wellbeing of early adolescents. The program is delivered via trained government schoolteachers who facilitate students’ learning and development in small groups using a discussion and activity-based curriculum. In August 2021, a study among 322 adolescents was conducted to investigate and compare program participants’ and non- participants’ understanding and use of inter- and intra-personal psychosocial skills. Focus group discussions were held with students in eight intervention schools and four comparable schools not receiving the intervention (control). Through the focus group discussions, students provided their opinions, thoughts, and ideas about vignettes describing challenges that youth in their communities frequently face, including early marriage and financial pressures. Analysis integrated qualitative and quantitative approaches, consisting of an iterative thematic analysis process followed by quantizing data and conducting t-tests. Youth who had received Youth First had greater awareness of problems, perspective-taking, problem-solving strategies, helping approaches, awareness of their own strengths, and visions for the future, when compared with the control group. Findings provide insights into potential outcomes for measurement in future evaluations of mental health promotion and prevention programs among youth in low- and middle-income countries.
... In the description of the results, non-specific forms of semi-quantification (e.g., 'multiple', 'a few') are used to convey general patterns within the data [30]. As with any qualitative research, empirical findings cannot be generalized beyond the study population, which is also outside the scope of qualitative research. ...
Despite the many benefits of club-organized sports participation for children, studies have shown that sports participation is lower among children from low-income families than among children from middle- or high-income families. Adopting a socioecological perspective, the main aim of our study was to identify and describe experiences of person–environment (PE) misfits in relation to parental facilitation of children’s sports participation. We conducted 24 interviews with parents from low-income families. PE misfits were found in multiple behaviors related to the facilitation of children’s sports participation: financing sports participation; planning and investing time; transporting children; acquiring, processing, and providing information; and arranging support. Across these PE misfits, influential attributes were found on the individual level (e.g., skills) as well as within the social, policy, physical, and information environment. In response to PE misfits experienced, parents deployed multiple strategies to reduce these PE misfits, aimed at enhancing either themselves (e.g., increasing financial capacities) or their environments (e.g., arranging social support). These results provide an insight into experienced PE misfits that took the form of multiple specific behaviors which parents found difficult while facilitating their children’s sports participation. Furthermore, the results provide insight into the environmental and individual attributes that were involved in these PE misfits, and into how parents modified themselves or their environments in order to make their environments more supportive. The study contributes to future research on individual and environmental influences on parental facilitation of their children’s sports participation, as well as on the development of multilevel interventions aimed at increasing sports participation among children from low-income families.
... All responses from the Bristol Online Survey were downloaded into an Excel 2016 spreadsheet (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA). Fixed response questions were assessed using frequency analysis (Ritchie and Lewis 2003;Neale, Miller, and West 2014). Open-ended response questions were assessed using a thematic analysis approach (Braun and Clarke 2014), as previously used when examining EYP using the following six-stage process: (a) familiarisation with the data, (b) generating initial codes, (c) searching for themes, (d) reviewing themes, (e) defining and naming themes and (f) producing the report. ...
This study presents the perceptions and practices of fundamental movement skills (FMS), healthy eating habits and physical activity (PA) in early years professionals (EYP). An online mixed-method survey comprising questions relating to practices of FMS, healthy eating habits and PA was completed by 137 EYPs (128 females). Frequency analysis assessed and reported responses to fixed-response questions, and thematic analysis was used for open-ended questions. Results indicated that EYPs understood FMS and were compliant with national guidelines in relation to PA and healthy eating. However, EYPs identified considerable barriers to developing FMS, PA and healthy eating in preschoolers.
... The user group provided valuable feedback on the interpretation of the findings and highlighted points that needed to be emphasized in the presentation of the results. The results are presented using a proportion scale to indicate the proportion of participants who reported on a specific issue: A few = less than 25%, some = 25%-39%, several = 40%-60%, many = 61-75% and most = >75% (Maxwell, 2010;Neale et al., 2014). ...
Educating and supporting people with early-stage dementia has gained increased focus worldwide as a response to an aging population and limited advancements in the medical treatment of the condition. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of people with early-stage dementia who were provided with support and information through a 12-week health promotion course and identify elements of the intervention potentially contributing to coping and adjustment to the condition. Data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews with 32 people with dementia after they had attended the course. For each participant, a care partner was also interviewed. The data were analyzed using systematic text condensation. Three main categories emerged from the analysis. These were: (I) bridging the post-diagnostic information gap, (II) facilitating health behavior changes, and (III) new perspectives on living with the condition. The results demonstrated that the intervention was well-received by the participants. Learning about dementia, meeting others in the same situation, and focusing on maintaining a healthy lifestyle was particularly highlighted, as was promoting family communication.
... IPA, which is adopted in this study, relies on the richness of the extracts and the themes, not the frequency or prevalence at which they are discussed by participants [99,100,104]. Furthermore, with respect to the literature, there are numerous papers which highlight problems that arise from incorporating numbers into qualitative research [105][106][107][108][109]. The inclusion of quantitative processes can lead researchers away from the insiders' perspectives by focusing on the assignment of objective characteristics [106]. ...
Recognition of the importance of authentic leadership is growing in popularity amonleadership scholars. However, little remains known about how it is valued or received among practicing school leaders. The purpose of this research was to explore the perspectives and experiences of school leaders with reference to authentic leadership in Irish primary school leaders. As this is a scoping study, a qualitative research design was adopted, using semi-structured interviews with school leaders. Core traits of self-awareness, balanced processing, relational transparency and internalized perspectives, that are associated with authentic leadership emerged as important for those interviewed. Barriers and facilitators of authentic leadership were also identified including educational policy, procedures and school culture.
Objective
This study provides insight into how cultural beliefs influence parents' causal attributions of maladaptive externalizing and internalizing behaviors in young children.
Background
Understanding how parents from different cultures explain difficult behavior in young children may inform culturally sensitive approaches for early intervention and prevention. To date, work on Malaysian parents' causal attributions of maladaptive behaviors in young children has received little empirical attention.
Method
We employed a semistructured interview method to assess Malaysian mothers' ( N = 16) open‐ended explanations for maladaptive externalizing and internalizing behavior in their young children, as depicted in hypothetical scenarios. Mothers' responses were coded according to a coding system of parental attributions.
Results
We identified cultural specificity in Malaysian parents' attributions of children's behaviors, with mothers endorsing reasons for children's maladaptive externalizing and internalizing behaviors that were not previously captured by the existing coding system. Mothers' attributions were informed by religious and spiritual beliefs.
Conclusions
Parents' causal attributions for children's maladaptive behaviors are culturally specific and are best captured by open‐ended approaches.
Implications
Cultural frames of reference shape parental beliefs, which are crucial to the effective formulation of early intervention and prevention approaches. Caution should be taken in general against universally operationalizing parents' attributions of children's behaviors.
Introduction
Alaska Native and American Indian (ANAI) peoples in Alaska currently experience a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality from tobacco cigarette use. Financial incentives for smoking cessation are evidence-based, but a family-level incentive structure has not been evaluated. We used a community-based participatory research and qualitative approach to culturally adapt a smoking cessation intervention with ANAI families.
Methods
We conducted individual, semi-structured telephone interviews with 12 ANAI adults who smoke, 12 adult family members, and 13 Alaska Tribal Health System stakeholders statewide between November 2022-March 2023. Through content analysis, we explored intervention receptivity, incentive preferences, culturally aligned recruitment and intervention messaging, and future implementation needs.
Results
Participants were receptive to the intervention. Involving a family member was viewed as novel and aligned with ANAI cultural values of commitment to community and familial interdependence. Major themes included choosing a family member who is supportive and understanding, keeping materials positive and encouraging, and offering cash and non-cash incentives for family members to choose (e.g., fuel, groceries, activities). Participants indicated that messaging should emphasize family collaboration and that cessation resources and support tips should be provided. Stakeholders also reinforced that program materials should encourage the use of other existing evidence-based cessation therapies (e.g., nicotine replacement, counseling).
Conclusions
Adaptations, grounded in ANAI cultural strengths were made to the intervention and recruitment materials based on participant feedback. Next steps include a beta-test for feasibility and a randomized controlled trial for efficacy.
Implications
This is the first study to design and adapt a financial incentives intervention promoting smoking cessation among Alaska Native or American Indian (ANAI) peoples and the first to involve the family system. Feedback from this formative work was used to develop a meaningful family-level incentive structure with ANAI people who smoke and family members and ensure intervention messaging is supportive and culturally aligned. The results provide qualitative knowledge that can inform future family-based interventions with ANAI communities, including our planned randomized controlled trial of the intervention.
This article analyses the use of a locally developed assessment tool designed to generate aggregated data to evaluate the work of a psychiatric and addiction clinic. The use of tools, methods and interventions in the Swedish social services is usually based on recommendations in national guidelines established by the National Board of Health and Welfare (NBHW). Thus, a locally produced and systematically used assessment tool provides an interesting deviant case for discussing knowledge production and use from the perspective of evidence‐based practice. The assessment tool was characterised by the specific psychiatric and addiction clinic context, where local needs and prerequisites were prioritised over the recommendations found in NBHW guidelines. The empirics comprise interviews with 12 professionals who used the tool, where experience of using the tool was analysed using a thematic analysis. The findings can be summarised in three main conclusions. First, tinkering of tools and methods is not necessarily associated with limited practice applicability or relevance. Second, professionals are more likely to appreciate a tool if that tool is designed with a treatment and conversation rationality in mind. Third, rather than perceived as more valid than other types of knowledge, NBHW‐recommended tools are associated with a certain shape or style – but a shape or style that is permeated by legitimacy.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a widely used psychiatric treatment; however, it remains contentious. It is therefore important that people are provided with accurate and balanced information before consenting to ECT. The aim of this study was to audit and analyse the content and language of ECT information sheets used in local health districts (LHDs) across the state of New South Wales Australia. Descriptive content analysis and evaluative linguistic analysis were used to investigate the information sheets, with findings then considered from a mad studies perspective. Thirteen ECT information sheets were obtained and reviewed, with the audit finding they lacked accuracy and balance. Linguistic tools were used to exaggerate positive outcomes and minimise negative effects. Despite commonalities, the structure and content of the sheets varied considerably. Findings indicate a need for co‐design and co‐production approaches to developing ECT information sheets. This should occur in genuine partnership with lived experience representatives based on current evidence, using neutral language, and with attention to their intent as part of processes of informed consent and decision making.
Objective: To understand barriers to seeking post-sexual assault services for students of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) students. Methods: Qualitative interviews about campus and community resources for sexual and relationship violence were conducted with 29 undergraduate and graduate students who held diverse sexual, gender, and racial identities (n = 15 disclosed violence-related service-seeking). Results: Organized within trauma-informed care pillars, thematic coding revealed aspects of campus environment/culture that prevent students from accessing support including challenges identifying experiences as violence; limited cultural and identity-affirming care; limited clarity about resources; confidentiality concerns; difficulty accessing resources; and navigating resources alone. Suggestions to address concerns included regular prevention training; better coordinated care and systems with increased accountability, increased survivor support and peer support, and heightened transparency on websites/trainings about processes and confidentiality. Conclusions: Findings suggest promising avenues to improve support, particularly for minoritized survivors of violence, at this campus.
Introduction:
Differential attainment is a well-known phenomenon in medical education. Despite a strong impetus for institutions and researchers to move away from a 'student deficit model' when exploring the attainment gap, little attention has been given to understanding the experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) medical students. Informed by the social construction of learning theory, this is the first national study to explore how multiple dimensions of the medical school environment impact academic performance of BAME undergraduate medical students across the UK.
Methods:
Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, the authors conducted a survey and facilitated three focus groups across medical schools in the UK between 2020-2021. Participants self-identified as being from BAME backgrounds. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis, subsequently identifying inductive themes.
Results:
Three hundred sixty-two respondents completed the Phase 1 survey, and 17 participants participated in the Phase 2 focus groups. Although both survey and focus group participants identified facilitators to learning such as supportive relationships, students reported facing numerous barriers that they felt impeded their learning and performance. These barriers included limited access to educational resources, and undiversified curricula and medical school populations. Students also described both experiencing and witnessing various forms of racism throughout their educational journeys.
Discussion:
Students encountered various difficulties throughout their medical training that they felt impacted their learning and performance. This study offers novel insights into the experiences of BAME students and builds upon previous research. It also reveals the pervasive nature of racism within medical schools, highlighting the urgent need for institutional changes. Educators and institutions must go beyond merely recognising these barriers and facilitators; they must proactively innovate and adapt. In doing so, they pave the way for inclusive learning environments that truly foster a sense of belonging for BAME students.
Brain-based explanations of addiction have been promoted for several decades. Their utility, however, is controversially discussed in the scientific community. While existing literature documents how stakeholders such as treatment providers, affected persons, and the public view their utility, views of the addiction research community are rarely represented. We aimed to complement existing studies by surveying researchers on their perspectives on the needs of addicted individuals, the utility of neuroscientific research for prevention and treatment, and future research priorities. 1440 international addiction researchers from many disciplines were invited to participate in a LimeSurvey. Their views on the treatment requirements of persons with addictions were assessed with a Likert scale and an open-ended question. The utility of neuroscientific research for prevention and treatment and the desired future priorities in addiction research were surveyed with open-ended questions. Quantitative items were analyzed descriptively. The qualitative content analysis of the free-text contributions followed an iterative inductive approach. Additionally, future research priorities were categorized deductively according to the underlying direction. 190 researchers from 29 countries participated (13.2%). Most considered various treatment and support options helpful and approaches tailored to the needs of individuals to be the most promising. The utility of neuroscientific research was evaluated critically by several, but benefits in terms of pharmacological treatment and the possibility to identify risk groups were acknowledged. Future areas of inquiry for addiction research mentioned were heterogenous and included neuroscientific/genetic/medications development (13%), psychosocial aspects (19%), and integrated bio-psycho-social approaches (45%). A corresponding reconsideration of treatment, support, and research seems warranted.
Background:
Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is a very common skin disease among the European population. It causes itch and pain and, in more severe cases, seriously impairs hand functioning at work and in private life.
Objectives:
To explore perspectives of people with lived experience on CHE-related problems, wishes and goals.
Methods:
Following a qualitative approach, we conducted topic-guided interviews in five European countries and applied template analysis to identify recurrent themes among patients with CHE.
Results:
We interviewed 60 patients in 7 outpatient dermatological and occupational medicine clinics in Croatia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain. Five main themes were identified: 1) knowledge about the disease and its course, 2) preventive behaviour, 3) hand eczema therapy, 4) impact on everyday life, 5) attitudes towards CHE and healthcare. Participants did not feel well informed about CHE, especially about causes, triggers, and treatment options. Preventive measures were experienced as more or less effective but also cumbersome. Experiences with therapy were diverse. Treatment satisfaction depended on the results and on the perceived support from the treatment teams. Participants found it important to be taken seriously, to receive practical advice, to try out additional treatments or examinations, find new hope, and have occupational perspectives. They wished that others could better understand the physical and emotional burden of CHE. Patient support groups were not mentioned. Participants found it important to learn to take care of themselves and accept life with CHE.
Conclusions:
Due to its annoying symptoms, high visibility, and impaired functioning at work and in private life, CHE has a high emotional and social impact. Some people may require support to learn coping with CHE and its prevention. Patients wish for information about causes and triggers. They value physicians who listen to them and keep looking for solutions.
Background and aims:
Long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) is a new treatment for opioid use disorder that is generating positive outcomes. Negative effects are typically mild and transient, but can occasionally be serious, resulting in treatment discontinuation/non-adherence. This paper aims to analyse patients' accounts of how they felt during the first 72 h after initiating LAIB.
Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were conducted (June 2021-March 2022) with 26 people (18 males and 8 females) who had started LAIB within the previous 72 h. Participants were recruited from treatment services in England and Wales and were interviewed by telephone using a topic guide. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and coded. The concepts of embodiment and embodied cognition framed the analyses. Data on participants' substance use, initiation onto LAIB and feelings were tabulated. Next, participants' accounts of how they felt were analysed following the stages of Iterative Categorization.
Results:
Participants reported complex combinations of changing negative and positive feelings. Bodily experiences included withdrawal symptoms, poor sleep, injection-site pain/soreness, lethargy and heightened senses inducing nausea ('distressed bodies'), but also enhanced somatic wellbeing, improved sleep, better skin, increased appetite, reduced constipation and heightened senses inducing pleasure ('returning body functions'). Cognitive responses included anxiety, uncertainties and low mood/depression ('the mind in crisis') and improved mood, greater positivity and reduced craving ('feeling psychologically better'). Whereas most negative effects reported are widely recognized, the early benefits of treatment described are less well-documented and may be an overlooked distinctive feature of LAIB.
Conclusions:
During the first 72 h after initiating long-acting injectable buprenorphine, new patients report experiencing a range of interconnected positive and negative short-term effects. Providing new patients with information about the range and nature of these effects can prepare them for what to expect and help them manage feelings and reduce anxiety. In turn, this may increase medication adherence.
Recent research recognises the importance of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) for government, industry, and education stakeholders. Nevertheless, there are calls for alternative ways of deepening knowledge, including adopting cross-nation and qualitative perspectives. In responding to these calls and considering the knowledge-based view of the firm, this study investigates company leaders’ perceptions concerning I4.0 preparedness among their employees, employees’ reactions to the new I4.0 regime, and how companies manage the process of knowledge acquisition to adopt I4.0. Data from 80 semi-structured, open-ended interviews were gathered from companies operating in Bolivia and Vietnam. The analysis uncovered the importance of company- and self-driven knowledge acquisition concerning employees’ I4.0 preparedness. The I4.0-motivated, I4.0-alienated, and uncertain future dimensions best illustrated staff’s reactions, while I4.0 change agents, technology-based conditions, and being non-risk adverse were best exemplars of company’s management of I4.0. The study discusses key practical and theoretical implications and proposes a theoretical framework.
The proliferation of digital devices and services has fundamentally changed customers’ shopping behaviour and has occasioned a new type of retailing called omnichannel retailing. Omnichannel retailing requires retailers to completely transform, moving away from managing processes in silos towards offering fully integrated and seamless shopping experiences across all the retailers’ physical and digital channels and touchpoints. The imperative to create seamless shopping experiences has rippled through every part of the retail supply chain. Accordingly, internal supply chain integration (SCI) has become central to a retailer’s ability to integrate the vast network of channels and functions that need to collaborate to create an omnichannel shopping experience. However, retailers highlight numerous difficulties when transforming their supply chains from previous types of multichannel retailing to omnichannel retailing.
By applying the strategic management theory of the dynamic capabilities view (DCV) this study explores the question of which dynamic capabilities facilitate the internal SCI of omnichannel retailers. To answer this question, the study employed a multimethod qualitative methodology. First, an in-depth literature review was conducted to identify dynamic capabilities within the scope of this study. Based on this process, a coding frame was developed. The coding frame was used to conduct a content analysis of 40 South African omnichannel retailers’ integrated annual reports (IARs). Second, 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted with top managers employed at South African omnichannel retailers. The interview data were transcribed and then analysed employing reflexive thematic analysis. Following the analysis of these two datasets, the findings were triangulated and a conceptual framework of dynamic capabilities that facilitate the internal SCI of omnichannel retailers was developed. The conceptual framework identified 14 dynamic capabilities that facilitate internal SCI, and elaborated on how each capability promotes internal SCI. These findings make a unique contribution as managers can use the list of dynamic capabilities to appraise their internal competencies to identify and prioritise the development of capabilities that facilitate competitiveness and adaptability in an ever-changing omnichannel environment. Furthermore, these findings make a unique contribution by being among the first to take an end-to-end approach to the investigation of omnichannel supply chain integration.
This qualitative study aimed to explore the experienced influence of HIV on the quality of life (QoL) of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and key populations who live without but are vulnerable to HIV in the Netherlands. We conducted and thematically analyzed interviews with 29 PLHIV and 13 participants from key populations without HIV (i.e., men who have sex with men). PLHIV and key populations shared positive meaningful experiences regarding HIV, i.e., feeling grateful for ART, life, and the availability of PrEP, being loved and supported in the light of HIV, and providing support to the community. Negative predominant experiences regarding HIV were described by both PLHIV and key populations as the negative effects of ART, challenges with regards to disclosing HIV, social stigmatization, and self-stigma. It remains important to support HIV community organizations in their efforts to reduce social stigmatization and to continue improving biomedical interventions for HIV.
While seminal research suggests that White teachers are more likely to judge the oral narratives of Black children less favorably than stories told by White children, less attention has been paid to the role of narrative quality in the perceptions teachers form of these complex discourse skills. Further, few studies have examined the extent to which Black and White teachers differ in their perceptions of children's oral narrative skills. To address these gaps in the literature, the current study used mixed methods to investigate the role of narrative quality in Black and White teachers’ perceptions of children's oral narrative skills. We presented teachers with a higher-quality narrative and a lower-quality narrative as told by hypothetical children with stereotypical Black or White names. We asked teachers to rate the narratives along several indicators and share their impressions of the child storytellers. Results indicated that Black and White teachers rated Black and White children's narratives similarly for the higher-quality narratives, but differed in their ratings when the narratives were of lower quality. While there were similarities in the impressions Black and White teachers formed of the child storytellers, there were qualitative differences in how Black and White teachers described their impressions of the child storytellers, particularly for the lower-quality narratives. Given the importance of children's oral narrative skills for literacy development, the implications for instruction, professional development, and workforce diversity are discussed.
In 2016 British Columbia (BC), Canada declared an overdose crisis due to the increasing adulteration of fentanyl – an opioid approximately 40 times stronger than heroin – into the heroin drug market, leading to a sharp increase in overdoses. In response, several new harm reduction programs have been implemented, including drug checking. Drug checking broadly refers to any number of techniques that test the contents of illegal drugs. Over the last decades, Canadian harm reduction workers serving nightlife and festival communities of people who use drugs have struggled to implement more advanced forms of drug checking. Before 2017, only reagent drug checking was available. Reagents worked like a litmus test for drugs: drop a liquid onto the drug in question and a colour change occurs. The colour change is then matched to a chart of known interactions between that chemical and drug. In 2017, the first Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) began to be used – with a machine worth thousands of dollars, a small sample, and infrared light, the knowledge required to drug check changed.
Drug checking in BC began to professionalize. Before the FTIR, those involved in drug checking were not expected to have a formal education. Now that the FTIR has replaced reagent drug checking, actors who come from backgrounds such as pharmacology and chemistry obtain a new position based on their expertise. This thesis has three fundamental research questions: 1) What distinguishes the analytic chemist from their non-chemistry counterparts? When new forms of knowledge become necessary for drug checking, can people lacking a formal chemistry background still operate the FTIR?”2) What kind of knowledge is required to operate the FTIR? 3) Can the arrival of new drug checking technologies do more than just provide people who use drugs with information about their substances? Can these new technologies create opportunities for people who use drugs who want to learn to operate the FTIR?
This thesis is informed by my harm reduction work in BC (2014-2016) before the arrival of the FTIR. It contains two distinct qualitative studies that explore different drug using communities where FTIR drug checking is practiced. The first study follows festival harm reduction workers. By observing and interviewing activists and drug checkers, the thesis examines how new ways of thinking and different skills become valued in drug checking when professionalization occurs. In the second study, as a research assistant for the BC Centre on Substance Use, a public health research organization, I conducted 26 interviews with people who use drugs and who went to an Overdose Prevention Site (a low-barrier clinic for people to inject drugs while under supervision). These interviews focused on how people understand the FTIR and why they use it, examining an early peer-FTIR training program at the Overdose Prevention Site.
Those with a chemistry background have an extensive knowledge of the spectra the FTIR produces. They see the patterns in the FTIR’s output and can determine which of the drugs identified by the FTIR are most likely in a sample. Yet, those without a background in analytical chemistry can also learn to use the FTIR effectively. I develop a new theoretical framework to explain how peers come to know how the FTIR works. I make a case for why peers can be involved in drug checking within their own communities. Drug checking has the potential to provide new opportunities to people who use drugs that they may not have had otherwise due to systemic oppression.
The use of numerical/quantitative data in qualitative research studies and reports has been controversial. Prominent qualitative researchers such as Howard Becker and Martyn Hammersley have supported the inclusion of what Becker called “quasi-statistics”: simple counts of things to make statements such as “some,” “usually,” and “most” more precise. However, others have resisted such uses, particularly when they are requested by reviewers for journals. This paper presents both the advantages of integrating quantitative information in qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting, and the potential problems created by such uses and how these can be dealt with. It also addresses the definition of mixed methods research, arguing that the use of numbers by itself doesn't make a study “mixed methods.”
Quantitizing, commonly understood to refer to the numerical translation, transformation, or conversion of qualitative data, has become a staple of mixed methods research. Typically glossed are the foundational assumptions, judgments, and compromises involved in converting disparate data sets into each other and whether such conversions advance inquiry. Among these assumptions are that qualitative and quantitative data constitute two kinds of data, that quantitizing constitutes a unidirectional process essentially different from qualitizing, and that counting is an unambiguous process. Among the judgments are deciding what and how to count. Among the compromises are balancing numerical precision with narrative complexity. The standpoints of "conditional complementarity," "critical remediation," and "analytic alternation" clarify the added value of converting qualitative data into quantitative form.
First Published in 2004. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
Two myths about qualitative research are that real qualitative researchers do not count and cannot count. These antinumber myths have led to the underutilization of numbers in qualitative research and to the simplistic view of qualitative research as non- or antinumber. Yet numbers are integral to qualitative research, as meaning depends, in part, on number. As in quantitative research, numbers are used in qualitative research to establish the significance of a research project, to document what is known about a problem, and to describe a sample. But they are also useful for showcasing the labor and complexity of qualitative work and to generate meaning from qualitative data; to document, verify, and test researcher interpretations or conclusions; and to re-present target events and experiences. Although numbers are important in the treatment of qualitative data, qualitative researchers should avoid the counting pitfalls of verbal counting, overcounting, misleading counting, and acontextual counting. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Res Nurs Health 24: 230–240, 2001
Publishing Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed
- K Stenius
- K Mäkelä
- M Miovsky
- R Gabrhelik
Stenius K., Mäkelä K., Miovsky M., Gabrhelik R. How to write
publishable qualitative research. In: Babor T. F., Stenius K.,
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Quality, quantity and knowledge interests: avoiding confusions Qualitative Researching with Text, Image and Sound: A Practical Handbook
- M W Bauer
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- N C Allum
- Bauer