Developing a Data Note reporting guideline for qualitative health and social care research datasets (the DeNOTE...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Data Science

Background:

• Data Note articles enhance research transparency and data reuse by detailing openly available datasets.
• Existing reporting guidelines are designed for quantitative data and are unsuitable for qualitative health and social care datasets.
• Qualitative datasets possess unique sensitivities requiring distinct reporting approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the protocol for developing the DeNOTE reporting guideline.
• The guideline aims to standardize reporting for Data Note articles on qualitative health and social care datasets.

Main Methods:

• A multi-stage approach involving a scoping exercise, expert questionnaires, and workshops.
• Development includes synthesizing reporting items, expert consensus building, and feedback elicitation.
• The protocol is registered with the EQUATOR Network.

Main Results:

• The study outlines a systematic protocol for guideline development.
• The process involves iterative refinement based on expert input and feedback.

Conclusions:

• The DeNOTE reporting guideline will provide a tailored resource for qualitative health and social care researchers.
• This initiative aims to enhance transparency and facilitate the reuse of qualitative research data.