USING QUALITATIVE METHODS IN INTERVENTION STUDIES

Qualitative research commonly is viewed as the antithesis of the clini cal trial and far removed from the immediate practical aims of interve ntion studies and nursing practice. Yet, qualitative methods can be us ed to enhance the significance and harness the benefits of clinical tr ials, and to emphasize the distinctive work and outcomes of nursing ca re. Qualitative methods are especially useful for further describing o r explaining subject variation on outcome variables, verifying outcome s obtained from standardized instruments, and clarifying and evaluatin g interventions in their real-life contexts. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Son s, Inc.