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Conducting Qualitative Research under Pandemic Restrictions - Considerations, Challenges, and Benefits: A
Anastasia Suslow1, Chantal Giehl1, Jannis Hergesell2
1Abteilung für Allgemeinmedizin (AM RUB), Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband Der Arzte Des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany))
|September 26, 2023
Summary
Conducting qualitative research during the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges. Adapting methods, like using telephone interviews, enabled nationwide recruitment and successful data collection for the ADAPTIVE study in palliative care.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Digital Health
- Palliative Care
Background:
- COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted healthcare professionals, increasing workload and safety restrictions.
- Medical professionals are key participants in health services research, offering insights into pandemic management and care improvements.
- The ADAPTIVE project investigates the impact of digital technologies on communication and teamwork in palliative care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a web-based software on communication, teamwork, and accountability in multidisciplinary palliative care teams.
- To discuss the challenges and benefits of conducting qualitative research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To illustrate the progress of the ADAPTIVE research project under pandemic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative research methods were employed, including interviews with 26 participants (physicians and nurses) in outpatient palliative care in Germany.
- The study design was adapted from face-to-face interviews and focus groups to telephone interviews due to pandemic restrictions.
- Digital video interviews were not feasible due to privacy policies, participant inexperience, and connectivity issues.
Main Results:
- 21 participants were interviewed by telephone and 5 face-to-face; planned focus groups were cancelled.
- Despite challenges, 26 interviews provided significant insights into digital support systems in palliative care.
- The research project was successfully completed despite modifications to the data collection methods.
Conclusions:
- Telephone interviews present limitations, including difficulties in establishing trust and loss of non-verbal cues.
- Expanding survey methodology to include telephone interviews facilitated nationwide recruitment and overcame logistical issues.
- Qualitative research designs offer flexibility in adapting study protocols to overcome unforeseen circumstances like a pandemic.
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