Rana Kritika, Poudel Prakash, Chimoriya Ritesh
Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia.
Philanthropy Nepal (Paropakari Nepal) Research Collaboration, Auburn, NSW 2144, Australia.
Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Oct 1;11(19):2665. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11192665.
Translational health research is an interdisciplinary field aimed at bridging the gap between basic science studies, preventative studies, and clinical practice to improve health-related outcomes. Qualitative research methods provide a unique perspective on the emotional, social, cultural, and contextual factors that influence health and healthcare and thus are recognized as valuable tools for translational health research. This approach can be embedded within a mixed method design which complements the quantitative findings. This methodological paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the fundamental concepts and methodologies used in qualitative research, emphasizing their utilization and significance in translational health research. Several approaches to qualitative research methodology are discussed in this review, including ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, case study, and action research. Theoretical frameworks such as the social-ecological model, intersectionality, and participatory action research are also examined to provide a structure for understanding and interpreting complex health issues. This methodological paper also reviews commonly used sampling techniques such as purposive, snowball, convenience, theoretical, and maximum variation sampling, along with data collection methods such as in-depth interviews, focus groups, observation, document analysis, and participatory methods. Moreover, data analysis techniques such as thematic analysis, grounded theory, content analysis, narrative analysis, and reflexive analysis, are discussed in the context of translational health. Overall, this review highlights the challenges and opportunities of using qualitative methods in current practice, while also discussing future directions and providing valuable guidance and insights to researchers interested in conducting qualitative research in translational health.
转化医学研究是一个跨学科领域，旨在弥合基础科学研究、预防研究和临床实践之间的差距，以改善与健康相关的结果。定性研究方法为影响健康和医疗保健的情感、社会、文化和背景因素提供了独特的视角，因此被认为是转化医学研究的宝贵工具。这种方法可以融入混合方法设计中，以补充定量研究结果。本方法论论文旨在全面回顾定性研究中使用的基本概念和方法，强调它们在转化医学研究中的应用和意义。本综述讨论了几种定性研究方法，包括民族志、现象学、扎根理论、案例研究和行动研究。还研究了社会生态模型、交叉性和参与式行动研究等理论框架，以提供理解和解释复杂健康问题的结构。本方法论论文还回顾了常用的抽样技术，如目的抽样、雪球抽样、便利抽样、理论抽样和最大变异抽样，以及数据收集方法，如深度访谈、焦点小组、观察、文献分析和参与式方法。此外，还在转化医学的背景下讨论了数据分析技术，如主题分析、扎根理论、内容分析、叙事分析和反思性分析。总体而言，本综述强调了在当前实践中使用定性方法的挑战和机遇，同时也讨论了未来的方向，并为有兴趣在转化医学中进行定性研究的研究人员提供了有价值的指导和见解。
