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Qualitative research within trials: developing a standard operating procedure for a clinical trials unit

Frances Rapport, Mel Storey, Alison Porter Orcid Logo, Helen Snooks Orcid Logo, Kerina Jones, Julie Peconi, Antonio Sánchez, Stefan Siebert, Kym Carter Orcid Logo, Clare Clement, Ian Russell

Trials, Volume: 14, Issue: 1, Start page: 54

Swansea University Authors: Alison Porter Orcid Logo, Helen Snooks Orcid Logo, Julie Peconi, Kym Carter Orcid Logo

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Abstract

BackgroundQualitative research methods are increasingly used within clinical trials to address broader research questions than can be addressed by quantitative methods alone. These methods enable health professionals, service users, and other stakeholders to contribute their views and experiences to...

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Published in: Trials
ISSN: 1745-6215
Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2013
Online Access: Check full text

URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54275
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Abstract: BackgroundQualitative research methods are increasingly used within clinical trials to address broader research questions than can be addressed by quantitative methods alone. These methods enable health professionals, service users, and other stakeholders to contribute their views and experiences to evaluation of healthcare treatments, interventions, or policies, and influence the design of trials. Qualitative data often contribute information that is better able to reform policy or influence design.MethodsHealth services researchers, including trialists, clinicians, and qualitative researchers, worked collaboratively to develop a comprehensive portfolio of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the West Wales Organisation for Rigorous Trials in Health (WWORTH), a clinical trials unit (CTU) at Swansea University, which has recently achieved registration with the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC). Although the UKCRC requires a total of 25 SOPs from registered CTUs, WWORTH chose to add an additional qualitative-methods SOP (QM-SOP).ResultsThe qualitative methods SOP (QM-SOP) defines good practice in designing and implementing qualitative components of trials, while allowing flexibility of approach and method. Its basic principles are that: qualitative researchers should be contributors from the start of trials with qualitative potential; the qualitative component should have clear aims; and the main study publication should report on the qualitative component.ConclusionsWe recommend that CTUs consider developing a QM-SOP to enhance the conduct of quantitative trials by adding qualitative data and analysis. We judge that this improves the value of quantitative trials, and contributes to the future development of multi-method trials
Keywords: National Health Service; Qualitative Method; Standard Operating Procedure; Chief Investigator; Qualitative Component
College: Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Issue: 1
Start Page: 54