Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to assess a qualitative study

doi:10.1503/cjs.013117

. 2018 Jun;61(3):208-214.

doi: 10.1503/cjs.013117.

Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to assess a qualitative study

Lucas Gallo¹; BHSc; Jessica Murphy¹, Luis H Braga¹, Forough Farrokhyar¹, Achilleas Thoma¹

Affiliations

Affiliation

¹ From the Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Gallo); the Division of Plastic surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Thoma, Murphy); the Division of Urology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Braga); the Dept of Surgery, McMaster University, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Braga, Farrokhyar, Thoma); and the Dept of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Formerly Dept of CE&B), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Farrokhyar, Thoma).

PMID: 29806819
PMCID: PMC5973909
DOI: 10.1503/cjs.013117

Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to assess a qualitative study

Lucas Gallo et al. Can J Surg. 2018 Jun.

. 2018 Jun;61(3):208-214.

doi: 10.1503/cjs.013117.

Authors

Lucas Gallo¹; BHSc; Jessica Murphy¹, Luis H Braga¹, Forough Farrokhyar¹, Achilleas Thoma¹

Affiliation

¹ From the Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Gallo); the Division of Plastic surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Thoma, Murphy); the Division of Urology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Braga); the Dept of Surgery, McMaster University, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Braga, Farrokhyar, Thoma); and the Dept of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (Formerly Dept of CE&B), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Farrokhyar, Thoma).

PMID: 29806819
PMCID: PMC5973909
DOI: 10.1503/cjs.013117

Abstract

Qualitative research contributes to the medical literature through the observation, description and interpretation of theories about social interactions and individual experiences as they occur in their natural setting. This type of research has the potential to enhance the understanding of surgeons' and patients' preferences, attitudes and beliefs, as well as assess how these may change with time. To date, there is no widely accepted standard for the methodological assessment of qualitative research. Despite ongoing debate, this article seeks to familiarize surgeons with the basic techniques for the critical appraisal of qualitative studies in the surgical literature.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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References

1. Shuval K, Harker K, Roudsari B, et al. Is Qualitative research second class science? A quantitative longitudinal examination of qualitative research in medical journals. PLoS ONE. 2011;6:e16937. - PMC - PubMed
1. Cypress B. Qualitative research: the “what,”“why,”“who,” and “how”! Dimens Crit Care Nurs. 2015;34:356–61. - PubMed
1. O’Brien B, Harris I, Beckman T, et al. Standards for reporting qualitative research. Acad Med. 2014;89:1245–51. - PubMed
1. Morse J. Qualitative health research. Qual Health Res. 2015;25:3. - PubMed
1. Maragh-Bass A, Appelson J, Changoor N, et al. Prioritizing qualitative research in surgery: a synthesis and analysis of publication trends. Surgery. 2016;160:1447–55. - PubMed

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[1] Shuval K, Harker K, Roudsari B, et al. Is Qualitative research second class science? A quantitative longitudinal examination of qualitative research in medical journals. PLoS ONE. 2011;6:e16937. - PMC - PubMed

[2] Shuval K, Harker K, Roudsari B, et al. Is Qualitative research second class science? A quantitative longitudinal examination of qualitative research in medical journals. PLoS ONE. 2011;6:e16937. - PMC - PubMed

[3] Cypress B. Qualitative research: the “what,”“why,”“who,” and “how”! Dimens Crit Care Nurs. 2015;34:356–61. - PubMed

[4] Cypress B. Qualitative research: the “what,”“why,”“who,” and “how”! Dimens Crit Care Nurs. 2015;34:356–61. - PubMed

[5] O’Brien B, Harris I, Beckman T, et al. Standards for reporting qualitative research. Acad Med. 2014;89:1245–51. - PubMed

[6] O’Brien B, Harris I, Beckman T, et al. Standards for reporting qualitative research. Acad Med. 2014;89:1245–51. - PubMed

[7] Morse J. Qualitative health research. Qual Health Res. 2015;25:3. - PubMed

[8] Morse J. Qualitative health research. Qual Health Res. 2015;25:3. - PubMed

[9] Maragh-Bass A, Appelson J, Changoor N, et al. Prioritizing qualitative research in surgery: a synthesis and analysis of publication trends. Surgery. 2016;160:1447–55. - PubMed

[10] Maragh-Bass A, Appelson J, Changoor N, et al. Prioritizing qualitative research in surgery: a synthesis and analysis of publication trends. Surgery. 2016;160:1447–55. - PubMed

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Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to assess a qualitative study

Affiliation

Users' guide to the surgical literature: how to assess a qualitative study

Authors

Affiliation

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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Cited by

References

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

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