9.1 The Pharmacy Context – Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research
Research Methodologies – Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research
Click on the tags in the image below to read more information about these research methodologies in this topic.
There are a range of research methods that can be used in pharmacy practice research. Your previous pharmacy practice research subject contained a topic on quantitative research methods in Pharmacy practice. If you wish to revise this methodology which was in an earlier chapter of this book it is linked here.
The Pharmacy Context – Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research
In this topic you will be learning about qualitative methods and then the pragmatic approach frequently used by researchers in health of combining quantitative and qualitative research (mixed methods)
Qualitative Methods
Over the past years, there has been an increase in the use of QUALITATIVE methods in health services research, including pharmacy research. Pharmacy practice researchers can use these methods to understand, explain, discover, and explore both patients’ and health care practitioners’ thoughts, perceptions, and feelings.
Readings: Qualitative Methods
Editorial published in the journal, Pharmacy: Gallego and Stig Norgaard, Qualitative Methods in Pharmacy Research, Pharmacy 2018, 6, 79; doi:10.3390/pharmacy6030079.
Additionally, in the journal, Pharmacy, there is a Special Edition dedicated to Qualitative Research Methods in Pharmacy Research. Available at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/pharmacy/special_issues/Pharmacy_Research
KEYWORDS for this Special Edition highlight the scope of Qualitative Research:
- Qualitative methods
- Interviews
- Focus groups
- Research approaches using qualitative research
- Data quality criteria in qualitative research
- Multi methods
- Mixed methods
- Pharmacy and health services research.
Mixed Methods
What is MIXED methods research and is this useful, in pharmacy practice research?
Mixed methods research combines elements of quantitative research and qualitative research in order to answer a research question. Mixed methods can help you gain a more complete picture than a standalone quantitative or qualitative study, as it integrates the benefits of both methods.
There are two papers that explore the use of mixed methods research in pharmacy practice. In an era of evidence-based medicine and policy, high-quality research evidence is essential for the development of effective pharmacist-led services.
Mixed Methods Research
- Mixed methods research in pharmacy practice: basics and beyond – Muhammad Abdul Hadi, David Phillip Alldred, S Jose Closs, Michelle Briggs International Journal of pharmacy practice, Volume 21, Issue 5, October 2013 – Pages 341-345 https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12010
- Mixed methods research in pharmacy practice: basics and beyond – Muhammad Abdul Hadi, David Phillip Alldred, S Jose Closs, Michelle Briggs International Journal of pharmacy practice, Volume 22, Issue 1, February 2014 – Pages 96-100 https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12015