TY - JOUR

T1 - Time to reflect

T2 - Palliative Care Congress

AU - Roberts, Diane

AU - Grande, G.

AU - Lloyd-Williams, Mari

AU - Calman, Lynn

AU - Appleton, Lynda

AU - Large, Paul

AU - Walshe, Catherine

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Background Qualitative longitudinal methods, used successfully for research in chronic conditions, can potentially unpick the dynamics of coping with advanced cancer as both a skillset and process. Studies in palliative care commonly suffer from high attrition and raise challenges when exploiting the richness and utility of longitudinal data.Aims To develop longitudinal methodology by learning from a successful study exploring how and when patients with advanced cancer and their informal carers develop coping strategies.Methods 54 participants (n=27 patients, n=27 nominated carers) were recruited to a qualitative longitudinal serial interview study. Using a core topic guide and a semi-narrative, conversational format, two interviews with each participant (n=86 interviews) were scheduled 4–12 weeks apart to encompass a range of everyday challenges and life events. A multidimensional approach combined thematic coding and framework analysis to compare patients, carers, dyads and interview points.Results Researcher sensitivity, responsiveness and planning of second interviews resulted in low attrition between interviews (7.5%). Interviews were welcomed by participants and their timing was central to understanding how and when participants' developed coping strategies. Participants could reflect in ways which opened up the ‘black box’ of lived experience and researchers' were able to develop more relevant follow-up questions. This assisted participants to articulate how, why and when they had (or had not) developed particular coping strategies.Conclusions Supporting the development of coping strategies which benefit patients and carers is both imperative and time critical in palliative care. This study shows that longitudinal qualitative research is valuable when exploring the complex ‘everyday realities’ of lived experience which are fundamental to quality of life but often develop, unremarked, over time. By integrating opportunities for participant reflection and focusing on ‘change over time’ this study was able to explore deeper patient-centred insights on which to develop robust evidence-based practice.

AB - Background Qualitative longitudinal methods, used successfully for research in chronic conditions, can potentially unpick the dynamics of coping with advanced cancer as both a skillset and process. Studies in palliative care commonly suffer from high attrition and raise challenges when exploiting the richness and utility of longitudinal data.Aims To develop longitudinal methodology by learning from a successful study exploring how and when patients with advanced cancer and their informal carers develop coping strategies.Methods 54 participants (n=27 patients, n=27 nominated carers) were recruited to a qualitative longitudinal serial interview study. Using a core topic guide and a semi-narrative, conversational format, two interviews with each participant (n=86 interviews) were scheduled 4–12 weeks apart to encompass a range of everyday challenges and life events. A multidimensional approach combined thematic coding and framework analysis to compare patients, carers, dyads and interview points.Results Researcher sensitivity, responsiveness and planning of second interviews resulted in low attrition between interviews (7.5%). Interviews were welcomed by participants and their timing was central to understanding how and when participants' developed coping strategies. Participants could reflect in ways which opened up the ‘black box’ of lived experience and researchers' were able to develop more relevant follow-up questions. This assisted participants to articulate how, why and when they had (or had not) developed particular coping strategies.Conclusions Supporting the development of coping strategies which benefit patients and carers is both imperative and time critical in palliative care. This study shows that longitudinal qualitative research is valuable when exploring the complex ‘everyday realities’ of lived experience which are fundamental to quality of life but often develop, unremarked, over time. By integrating opportunities for participant reflection and focusing on ‘change over time’ this study was able to explore deeper patient-centred insights on which to develop robust evidence-based practice.

U2 - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2014-000654.111

DO - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2014-000654.111

M3 - Meeting abstract

VL - 4

SP - A40

JO - BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care

JF - BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care

SN - 2045-435X

IS - Supplement 1

Y2 - 13 March 2014 through 14 March 2014

ER -