Online stroke forum as source of data for qualitative research: insights from a comparison with patients' interviews.
Publication Date
2018-03-30Journal Title
BMJ open
ISSN
2044-6055
Publisher
BMJ Journals
Volume
8
Issue
3
Pages
e020133
Language
eng
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Physical Medium
Electronic
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Jamison, J., Sutton, S., Mant, J., & De Simoni, A. (2018). Online stroke forum as source of data for qualitative research: insights from a comparison with patients' interviews.. BMJ open, 8 (3), e020133. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020133
Abstract
Objective
To determine the appropriateness of an online forum compared with face-to-face interviews as a source of data for qualitative research on adherence to secondary prevention medications after stroke.
Design
A comparison of attributes of two data sources, interviews and a forum, using realistic evaluation; a comparison of themes around adherence according to the Perceptions and Practicalities Approach (PAPA) framework.
Setting
Interviews were conducted in UK GP practices in 2013 and 2014; Online posts were written by UK stroke survivors and family members taking part in the online forum of the Stroke Association between 2004 and 2011.
Participants
42 interview participants: 28 stroke survivors (age range 61-92yrs), 14 caregivers (85% spouses). 84 online forum participants: 49 stroke survivors (age range 32-72yrs), 33 caregivers (60% sons/daughters).
Results
10 attributes were identified within the two data sources, and categorised under 3 domains (Context, Mechanisms and Outcomes). Participants’ characteristics of forum users were often missing. Most forum participants had experienced a stroke within the previous 12 months, while interviewees had done so one to five years previously.
All interview themes could be matched with corresponding themes from the forum.The forum yielded three additional themes: influence of bad press on taking statins, criticisms of clinicians’ prescribing practices, and caregiver burden in assisting with medications and being advocates for survivors with healthcare professionals.
Conclusions
An online forum is an appropriate source of data for qualitative research on patients’ and caregivers’ issues with adherence to secondary prevention stroke medications and may offer additional insights compared to interviews, which can be attributed to differences in the approach to data collection.
Embargo Lift Date
2100-01-01
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020133
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/275552
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