Improving Health Services Flashcards
What is qualitative research?
Collection and analysis of non-numerical information via formal research methods - allows the researcher to gain an understanding of the target population’s behaviors/attitudes/experiences - why and how
give examples of Qualitative data types
- Interviews
- Focus groups
- Letters/diaries
- Case notes
- Speeches
- Video diaries
- Internet conversations
- Observation notes
give examples of Qualitative research methods
- Content Analysis
- Grounded Theory
- Framework Analysis
- Protocol Analysis
- Ethnography
- Phenomenology
- Discourse Analysis
- Conversation Analysis
- Thematic analysis
- Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)
What is a theme?
“Themes are recurrent and distinctive features of participants’ accounts, characterising particular perceptions and/or experiences, which the researcher sees as relevant to the research question”
• A theme can reflect a pattern of responses or meaning within the data
• The researcher’s judgement determines what a theme is
how are themes identified?
- Immersing in the data: read & re-read transcripts to familiarise with the depth and breadth of their content
- Coding transcripts: identifying ‘interesting’ data until data saturation (no new ideas emerge)
- Organising codes into meaningful groups (categories)
- Generating themes* – interpret relationships between categories, explain patterns within and between categories… to tell a story!
when are qualitative methods most useful?
When the research topic is:
- Concerned with interaction or process
- Complex
- Not quantifiable
- Sensitive
When the research objective is to:
- interpret, illuminate, illustrate
- understand how or why
- explore understudied research areas
- learn about few/hard to reach people
what are the Psychosocial aspects of prenatal testing
Ethical Social Cultural Policy and Practice Methodology expertise
what in particular influences attitude towards religion?
religion, community and family all influence attitudes (there are other factors)
Despite this, studies have shown people will bend the guidelines of religion if decisions are perceived personal; for example regarding reproduction, or have severe outcomes; for example the child would suffer greatly if not aborted.
give an example of qualitative research being used to make change
Down syndrome leaflets
Figured out using images of down’s children caused potential parents NOT to abort as it equated the termination with killing the person in front of them. Asking questions about this allowed change which has facilitated parents to make their own choice without bias.
what are the limitations of Qualitative research methods?
•Generalisability
– Sample selection based on certain experiences (not random)
– Sample size – often small
Reliability – findings are based on interpretations by the researcher, and therefore their Knowledge (depth & breadth) of the research topic, along with their Imagination and ability to identify ‘important’ findings
what are the Strengths of qualitative findings
- Unpredictable and insightful
* Usually unobtainable using a quantitative approaches based on preconceived ideas
what is commissioning?
‘the set of linked activities required to assess the … needs of a population, specify the services required to meet those needs within a strategic framework, secure those services, monitor and evaluate the outcomes’.
what is purchasing?
‘the process of buying or funding services in response to demand or usage’.
what is contracting
‘the technical process of selecting a provider, negotiating and agreeing the terms of a contract for services,
AND ongoing management of the contract including payment, monitoring, variations’.
what is Procurement
‘the process of identifying a supplier, and may involve for example competitive tendering, competitive quotation, single sourcing. It may also involve stimulating the market through awareness raising and education’.
what are the stages in the commissioning cycle?
Planning stage
Procurement Stage
Monitoring stage
what are important parts of the planning stage of the commissioning cycle?
- Health Needs Assessment
- Reviewing Current provision
- Identifying Gaps and Priorities
- Capacity Planning
what are important parts of the procurement stage of the commissioning cycle?
- Service Design/Redesign
- Defining Contracts
- Procuring Appropriate Services
- Managing Demand
what are important parts of the monitoring stage of the commissioning cycle?
- Monitoring Activity and Quality
- Invoicing and payment
- User and Local Authority Views
- Feedback
what skills does a commissioner need?
Personal Skills – Excellent listener – Outcomes focussed – Realistic – Resilient – Enabler – Honest broker