title: Developing longitudinal qualitative designs: lessons learned and recommendations for health services research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Longitudinal qualitative methods are becoming increasingly used in the health service research, but the method and challenges particular to health care settings are not well described in the literature.We reflect on the strategies used in a longitudinal qualitative study to explore the experience of symptoms in cancer patients and their carers, following participants from diagnosis for twelve months; we highlight ethical, practical, theoretical and methodological issues that need to be considered and addressed from the outset of a longitudinal qualitative study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key considerations in undertaking longitudinal qualitative projects in health research, include the use of theory, utilizing multiple methods of analysis and giving consideration to the practical and ethical issues at an early stage. These can include issues of time and timing; data collection processes; changing the topic guide over time; recruitment considerations; retention of staff; issues around confidentiality; effects of project on staff and patients, and analyzing data within and across time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As longitudinal qualitative methods are becoming increasingly used in health services research, the methodological and practical challenges particular to health care settings need more robust approaches and conceptual improvement. We provide recommendations for the use of such designs. We have a particular focus on cancer patients, so this paper will have particular relevance for researchers interested in chronic and life limiting conditions.
authors: University of Manchester, Jean McFarlane Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
authors: Lynn
authors: L
authors: Calman
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Brunton
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Molassiotis
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D018579:Patient Selection; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design
references: Psychooncology. 2012 Jan;21(1):64-71
references: 21132680
references: Ann Fam Med. 2008 Jul-Aug;6(4):331-9
references: 18626033
references: J Natl Cancer Inst. 2004 Mar 3;96(5):376-87
references: 14996859
references: J Support Oncol. 2011 Mar-Apr;9(2):64-71
references: 21542413
references: J Clin Nurs. 2010 Jul;19(13-14):1969-76
references: 20936753
references: BMJ. 2009 Sep 28;339:b3702
references: 19786485
references: Cancer Nurs. 2011 Sep-Oct;34(5):401-9
references: 21252641
references: Qual Health Res. 2007 Dec;17(10):1392-402
references: 18000078
references: BMJ. 2010 Jun 09;340:c2581
references: 20538635
references: Health Serv Res. 1999 Dec;34(5 Pt 2):1153-88
references: 10591278
references: Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2010 Dec;14(5):410-6
references: 20363189
references: Intern Med J. 2006 Jul;36(7):406-13
references: 16780445
references: Lung Cancer. 2011 Nov;74(2):344-8
references: 21511356
references: Support Care Cancer. 2013 Jan;21(1):9-25
references: 22972487
references: Oncol Nurs Forum. 2010 Mar;37(2):E105-13
references: 20189909
references: Br J Cancer. 2011 Nov 8;105 Suppl 1:S5-10
references: 22048033
references: BMJ. 2006 Feb 18;332(7538):413-6
references: 16484270
references: Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2011 Jul;15(3):226-32
references: 21511530
references: J Pain Symptom Manage. 2007 Oct;34(4):393-402
references: 17616334
references: J Adv Nurs. 2012 Apr;68(4):856-67
references: 21790736
references: Palliat Support Care. 2012 Sep;10(3):197-204
references: 22613011
references: Cancer Nurs. 2010 Jan-Feb;33(1):55-63
references: 19926976
references: Support Care Cancer. 2007 Mar;15(3):327-32
references: 16951952
references: J Clin Oncol. 2009 Dec 20;27(36):6172-9
references: 19884548
references: Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2011 Jul;15(3):243-9
references: 21530395
references: Scand J Caring Sci. 2012 Mar;26(1):45-52
references: 21605154
references: J Pain Symptom Manage. 2001 Oct;22(4):807-19
references: 11576797
references: Cancer Nurs. 2012 Nov-Dec;35(6):402-10
references: 22067685
references: Qual Health Res. 2000 Jul;10(4):538-46
references: 11010077
references: Nurse Educ Today. 2006 Dec;26(8):719-25
references: 17014931