Establishing rigour in qualitative research: the decision trail

Area of Science:

• Qualitative research methodology
• Phenomenological research
• Healthcare quality improvement

Background:

• Establishing trustworthiness in qualitative research is crucial.
• The researcher's decision trail is key to auditing study rigor.
• Limited literature exists on documenting interviewer experience in qualitative research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illustrate methods for maintaining a decision trail in qualitative research.
• To enhance the trustworthiness and auditability of qualitative studies.
• To explore older patients' concerns within acute care settings.

Main Methods:

• Utilized existential phenomenology to capture researcher's experiences as data.
• Conducted in-depth interviews with 14 older patients across two care wards.
• Documented researcher's influences, including literature, media, personal values, and journal entries.

Main Results:

• Identified key patient concerns: routine geriatric care, depersonalization, care deprivation, and segregation.
• Demonstrated the practical application of maintaining a decision trail.
• Highlighted the value of the researcher's subjective experience in qualitative data generation.

Conclusions:

• Maintaining a transparent decision trail enhances qualitative research rigor.
• The researcher's role as an active participant in data creation is vital.
• Understanding older patients' concerns can inform improvements in geriatric care.