Skip to main content

Table 2 The rationale for doing the qualitative research described in proposals 1

From: Describing qualitative research undertaken with randomised controlled trials in grant proposals: a documentary analysis

Rationale

Summarised statements from proposals and protocols

Patient voice or engagement (1)

Engage service users in driving research process. Giving users a ‘voice’ in the evaluation of a health technology of which they will be the recipients

Optimise the trial process / Develop the best processes to maximise the success of the trial (4)

Optimise overall trial process

Phase 1: Develop qualitative model to understand perceptions and inform strategies for full trial

Phase 2: Modify trial procedures and documentation in feasibility phase

Improve recruitment and consent procedures for main trial (2)

Development of training programme with individual feedback for staff involved in recruitment. Recommend recruitment strategies most likely to promote recruitment into the main trial

To pilot and develop trial procedures including modeling consent procedures for main trial

Generate theories and models to guide intervention development (2)

Build conceptual model of [] preferences that will be explored in a subgroup of randomised [participants]

Gain an insider’s perspective from which a theoretical framework regarding subjective experience of service users can be developed

Generate theories to guide the trial and health community (1)

Develop theoretical model of HTA practice / Develop a critical understanding of social processes and practices implicated in development, implementation and dissemination of a RCT in the field of HTA

Optimise implementation into clinical practice (6)

Inform future development of services of this intervention

Process evaluation will provide important generalizable information for wider health community about acceptability [in service]

 

Inform the roll out of the intervention to the wider community

Inform commissioners and service providers to contribute to maximisation of quality and uptake of [intervention]

Assess the feasibility of delivering [intervention] in NHS

Interpret trial findings (especially unexpected findings) (5)

Understand and explain any differences in outcome between intervention sites

Insight into possible explanations for differential success of intervention

Interpret trial results to understand why intervention did work / work to further interpret and illuminate the findings from the trial itself

Influence the interpretation of the outcome data / identify unanticipated outcomes and barriers to change

Other (5)

Understand, as well as quantify, the process and outcome of care

Bring together the views of different research participants

Explore range of resource use for economic analysis

Provide new insights into patients’ views and experiences of [intervention] and usual care

Provide a richer understanding of patient and carer perceptions to complement quantitative data

  1. 1Numbers in brackets represent the number of incidences that this category or sub-category was mentioned in the proposals we analysed. All text in square brackets has been removed / summarized to maintain anonymity.