Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
05:26
Enactive Phenomenological Approach to the Trier Social Stress Test: A Mixed Methods Point of View
Published on: January 7, 2019
Qualitative case study methodology in nursing research: an integrative review
1School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. santhony@uwo.ca
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|April 21, 2009
Summary
Qualitative case study methodology is increasingly used in nursing research. This review found high-quality studies but noted confusion in terminology, emphasizing careful application for advancing nursing science.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Research
- Qualitative Methodology
- Health and Social Care Research
Background:
- Increasing complexity in healthcare necessitates current examination of research methodologies.
- The use of case study in nursing research is growing, highlighting the need for a contemporary review.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically analyze the contemporary use of qualitative case study methodology in nursing research.
- To address the need for current examination of case study methodology in nursing.
Main Methods:
- An integrative review guided by Whittemore and Knafl's method.
- A systematic literature search of case study research published between 2005-2007 across multiple databases.
- Analysis of 42 selected case study research papers.
Main Results:
- Confusion exists regarding the terminology, nature, and application of case study methodology.
- Case study methodology is often not explicitly identified in titles and abstracts.
- High-quality case study research is evident in nursing, often used adjunctively in larger or mixed-methods studies.
Conclusions:
- The judicious application of literature review methods enhances nursing science development.
- Case study is an established methodology in nursing research for studying health and social care phenomena.
- Continued appraisal and attention to case study elements are crucial for methodological quality and visibility in nursing knowledge development.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Nursing Interventions II: Selecting and Classifying the Nursing Interventions
Creating and executing a nursing diagnosis helps nurses plan care and guide patient, family, and community interventions. They are developed based on a patient's physical evaluation and support measuring the outcomes. It is not recommended to select random interventions throughout the planning process. Instead, consider the following six essential factors when choosing interventions:
01:18The Scientific Method in Nursing Process
The scientific method provides the foundation for any research. It is the most reliable and objective of all forms of gaining knowledge and guides in applying research-based evidence in practice and conducting future research.
When using research findings to change practice, one must understand the process used to guide a study. The scientific method is a systematic, step-by-step process that supports the data's validity, reliability, and generalizability. As a result, findings can be safely...
When using research findings to change practice, one must understand the process used to guide a study. The scientific method is a systematic, step-by-step process that supports the data's validity, reliability, and generalizability. As a result, findings can be safely...
01:22Case Studies
There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.
01:29Data Collection II
The nursing history captures and records the patient's health status, so that a care plan evolves to meet the patient's individual needs. The nursing health history is a part of the initial assessment. A comprehensive history covers all health dimensions and plays a significant role in the assessment process. A comprehensive history includes the patient's biographical information, reasons for seeking health care, expectations, present and past health history, medications, and family,...
01:10Qualitative Analysis
Qualitative analysis is the process of identifying elements, ions, or compounds in an unknown sample. It is the first and most fundamental type of analysis based on the hierarchy of analytical goals. This hierarchy is significant as it provides a structured approach to scientific research, with qualitative analysis serving as the initial step, providing essential information before moving on to quantitative or other forms of analysis.
There are two main approaches to qualitative analysis:...
There are two main approaches to qualitative analysis:...
03:46Qualitative Analysis
For solutions containing mixtures of different cations, the identity of each cation can be determined by qualitative analysis. This technique involves a series of selective precipitations with different chemical reagents, each reaction producing a characteristic precipitate for a specific group of cations. Metal ions within a group are further separated by varying the pH, heating the mixture to redissolve a precipitate, or adding other reagents to form complex ions.
For instance, group IV...
For instance, group IV...