Abstract
Background
While Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is encouraged throughout the research process, engagement is typically limited to intervention design and post-analysis stages. There are few approaches to participatory data analyses within complex health interventions.
Methods
Using qualitative data from a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT), this proof-of-concept study tests the value of a new approach to participatory data analysis called Participatory Theme Elicitation (PTE). Forty excerpts were given to eight members of a youth advisory PPI panel to sort into piles based on their perception of related thematic content. Using algorithms to detect communities in networks, excerpts were then assigned to a thematic cluster that combined the panel members’ perspectives. Network analysis techniques were also used to identify key excerpts in each grouping that were then further explored qualitatively.
Results
While PTE analysis was, for the most part, consistent with the researcher-led analysis, young people also identified new emerging thematic content.
Conclusions
PTE appears promising for encouraging user led identification of themes arising from qualitative data collected during complex interventions. Further work is required to validate and extend this method.
While Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is encouraged throughout the research process, engagement is typically limited to intervention design and post-analysis stages. There are few approaches to participatory data analyses within complex health interventions.
Methods
Using qualitative data from a feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT), this proof-of-concept study tests the value of a new approach to participatory data analysis called Participatory Theme Elicitation (PTE). Forty excerpts were given to eight members of a youth advisory PPI panel to sort into piles based on their perception of related thematic content. Using algorithms to detect communities in networks, excerpts were then assigned to a thematic cluster that combined the panel members’ perspectives. Network analysis techniques were also used to identify key excerpts in each grouping that were then further explored qualitatively.
Results
While PTE analysis was, for the most part, consistent with the researcher-led analysis, young people also identified new emerging thematic content.
Conclusions
PTE appears promising for encouraging user led identification of themes arising from qualitative data collected during complex interventions. Further work is required to validate and extend this method.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 559 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Trials |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 23 Nov 2017 |
Keywords
- network analysis
- participatory analysis
- user involvement
- trials
- patient and public involvement
