Qualitative Research Evidence: How Does it Contribute to Evidence-Based Practice?

Carpenter C.¹, Igo S.^2, Solomon P.³, Trede F.⁴

¹Coventry University, Department of Physiotherapy & Dietetics, Coventry, United Kingdom, ²Coventry University, Department Of Physiotherapy & Dietetics, Coventry, United Kingdom, ³McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hamilton, Canada, ⁴Charles Sturt University, The Education for Practice Institute, North Parramatta, Australia

Learning objectives:

1. To review the unique foundational characteristics of qualitative research 2. To discuss issues related to critically appraising qualitative research and developing qualitative evidence 3. To examine the contribution qualitative evidence can make to physical therapy practice at the macro-, meso- and micro- levels of service delivery 

Description:

Earlier definitions of evidence-based practice promoted the idea of a hierarchy of 'scientific' evidence associated with experimental research approaches. Qualitative research has not been consistently included in academic program curricula and has typically been taught and evaluated by comparing and contrasting it with quantitative approaches. This has constrained the sort of research questions asked and the issues it has been possible to investigate. However, the increasing complexity of health care issues, particularly related rehabilitation and community care, has made broadening the definition and application of evidence an imperative. Practitioners therefore need to understand a diversity of research methodologies and methods in order to assess the value of research evidence and effectively apply in their practice. This symposium will give physical therapists the opportunity to review their understanding of what qualitative research is and engage in the most current debate about how qualitative studies can be evaluated or critically appraised and qualitative evidence generated and classified. A qualitative critical appraisal framework will be briefly introduced and made available to the participants, and used to focus the discussion. The contribution of qualitative evidence to our understanding of contemporary physical therapy and rehabilitation practice, such as, the client-centered approach, development and evaluation of outcome measures, the nature of clinical reasoning and clinical expertise, at the different levels of health care delivery will be explored. The implications of conducting qualitative research and incorporating qualitative evidence in 'real' practice will be discussed with the symposium participants. The format of the symposium will be as follows:

• Session 1 will provide a brief overview of the foundational concepts that uniquely characterize qualitative research.
• Session 2 will discuss issues related to critically appraising the quality of qualitative studies and conducting metasyntheses of qualitative evidence.
• Session 3 will outline the contribution of qualitative evidence to evidence-based practice, using examples at the macro-, meso- and micro level of physical therapy service delivery. Each session 20 minutes including questions
• Session 4 (15 minutes) will discuss the implications of qualitative evidence for 'real' practice with the symposium participants
• Session 5 will provide a summary of key 'take home' messages

Implications / Conclusions:

The broader definition of evidence offered by inclusion of qualitative research is more congruent with the multi-factorial nature of physical therapy and rehabilitation practice and client -centred practice. The symposium will conclude by presenting a number of key messages related to the need for practitioners to develop the skills to critically appraise different types of research, assess the evidence and effectively apply it in practice. The contribution of qualitative research to evidence based practice and other emerging models of practice, will be addressed in terms of five categories that represent the complexity of practice: expectations, environment, experience, ethics and evidence.

Keywords:

Qualitative research; Evidence-based practice; Critical appraisal

Funding acknowledgements:

No funding was obtained for the development of this symposium

Relevance to WCPT and expected audience:

Evidence – based practice (EBP) has been widely adopted by the physical therapy profession. However, the multi-factorial nature of rehabilitation practice requires a broader definition of evidence than traditionally derived from experimental research approaches. Physical therapists need to be able to understand the contribution qualitative research can make to EPB and critically appraise the quality and rigor of studies in order to be able to effectively apply qualitative evidence to their practice.

Target audience:

Physical therapists providing rehabilitation services, particularly for clients with chronic conditions, and those interested in exploring uncertainty, complexity and diversity in their practice. 

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