Researching experiences of cancer: the importance of methodology.
This paper draws on contributions to and discussions at a recent MRC HSRC-sponsored workshop 'Researching users' experiences of health care: the case of cancer'. We focus on the methodological and ethical challenges that currently face researchers who use self-report methods to investigate experiences of cancer and cancer care. These challenges relate to: the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of research; participation rates and participant profiles; data collection methods (the retrospective nature of accounts, description and measurement, and data collection as intervention); social desirability considerations; relationship considerations; the experiences of contributing to research; and the synthesis and presentation of findings. We suggest that methodological research to tackle these challenges should be integrated into substantive research projects to promote the development of a strong knowledge base about experiences of cancer and cancer care.
Entwistle
V
V
Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, Fosterhill, Aberdeen, UK. vae@hsru.abdn.ac.uk
Tritter
J Q
JQ
Calnan
M
M
D003142:Communication; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D032984:Ethics, Research; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D010358:Patient Participation; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012107:Research Design