Open this publication in new window or tab >>Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, London, UK.
Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK.
Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK.
Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, West Glamorgan, UK.
School of Primary, Community and Social Care, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, UK.
Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK.
School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, UK.
School of Education, University of Cincinnati College of Education Criminal Justice and Human Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, and NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK.
Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK.
Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Institute of Population Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
Medical Care Research Unit, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
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2019 (English)In: BMJ Open, E-ISSN 2044-6055, Vol. 9, no 11, article id e032081Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
It is common to undertake qualitative research alongside randomised controlled trials (RCTs) when evaluating complex interventions. Researchers tend to analyse these datasets one by one and then consider their findings separately within the discussion section of the final report, rarely integrating quantitative and qualitative data or findings, and missing opportunities to combine data in order to add rigour, enabling thorough and more complete analysis, provide credibility to results, and generate further important insights about the intervention under evaluation. This paper reports on a 2 day expert meeting funded by the United Kingdom Medical Research Council Hubs for Trials Methodology Research with the aims to identify current strengths and weaknesses in the integration of quantitative and qualitative methods in clinical trials, establish the next steps required to provide the trials community with guidance on the integration of mixed methods in RCTs and set-up a network of individuals, groups and organisations willing to collaborate on related methodological activity. We summarise integration techniques and go beyond previous publications by highlighting the potential value of integration using three examples that are specific to RCTs. We suggest that applying mixed methods integration techniques to data or findings from studies involving both RCTs and qualitative research can yield insights that might be useful for understanding variation in outcomes, the mechanism by which interventions have an impact, and identifying ways of tailoring therapy to patient preference and type. Given a general lack of examples and knowledge of these techniques, researchers and funders will need future guidance on how to undertake and appraise them.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2019
Keywords
integration, qualitative, quantitative, research methods, trials
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:mau:diva-4836 (URN)10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032081 (DOI)000512774800273 ()31772096 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85075672233 (Scopus ID)30495 (Local ID)30495 (Archive number)30495 (OAI)
2020-02-282020-02-282024-06-17Bibliographically approved