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. 2024 Apr;68(1):26-34.

A commentary on the use of mixed methods in chiropractic research: Part 3: integration of qualitative research with randomized controlled trials

Peter C Emary  1   2   3 , Kent J Stuber  4   5
Affiliations

A commentary on the use of mixed methods in chiropractic research: Part 3: integration of qualitative research with randomized controlled trials

Peter C Emary et al. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2024 Apr.

Abstract
in English, French

This is the third of three papers in our series of articles on the use of mixed methods in chiropractic research. In this commentary, we discuss the mixed methods experimental (or intervention) design. This design is a complex mixed methods research design in which qualitative research is integrated with randomized controlled trials. We provide a brief overview of this study design as well as a case example from the literature to illustrate how this approach can be applied to research within the chiropractic profession.

Étude sur l’utilisation de méthodes mixtes dans la recherche en chiropratique. Partie 3: intégration de la recherche qualitative aux essais cliniques randomisés.Cet article est le troisième d’une série de trois articles sur l’utilisation de méthodes mixtes dans la recherche en chiropratique. Dans cet article, nous abordons le modèle expérimental (ou d’intervention) des méthodes mixtes. Il s’agit d’un modèle complexe de recherche par méthodes mixte dans lequel la recherche qualitative est intégrée à des essais cliniques randomisés. Nous présentons un aperçu de ce modèle d’étude ainsi qu’un exemple issu des ouvrages spécialisés afin d’illustrer la manière dont cette approche peut être appliquée à la recherche dans le domaine de la chiropratique.

Keywords: Chiropractic; Mixed Methods; Qualitative Research; Randomized Controlled Trial.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no disclaimers, competing interests, or sources of support or funding to report in the preparation of this manuscript. Dr. Emary is supported, in part, by a post-doctoral award from the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care at McMaster University outside of the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Adding qualitative research into a randomized controlled trial to form a mixed methods experimental (or intervention) design (RCT = randomized controlled trial). (Source: Modified from Creswell JW, Plano Clark VL. Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage; 2018.)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Participant flow, study visits and evaluation procedures from the randomized clinical trial protocol by Westrom et al. Qualitative interviews are integrated at the end of the 12-week intervention (large arrow). (Source: Modified from Westrom KK, Maiers MJ, Evans RL, Bronfort G. Individualized chiropractic and integrative care for low back pain: the design of a randomized clinical trial using a mixed-methods approach. Trials. 2010; 11:24.)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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