System Maintenance Notice

Please note that maintenance work is scheduled between 4 AM and 5 AM - CET. During this time, you may experience reduced performance. Thanks for your patience.

Publications

Journal Article Review Ppublish

PubMed: 41643712 DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00670-9

Expert recommendations for the conduct and appraisal of qualitative research in oncology.

Lancet Oncol 27(2):e84-e100

Authors: Erica C Kaye, Jori Bogetz, Krysta S Barton, Cynthia J Bell, Emily E Johnston, Rachel A Pozzar, Alexandra Superdock, Sally Thorne, Meaghann S Weaver, Lori Wiener, Dylan E Graetz

Affiliations

  • Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
  • Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA; Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
  • Stanford University Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford, CA, USA.
  • Cancer Care Services, Corewell Health West, Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
  • Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
  • Phyllis F Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services, Division of Population Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
  • Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
  • School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
  • Department of Pediatrics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
  • Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
  • Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.

Abstract

Qualitative research is essential in addressing unresolved problems in oncology, yet high-yield strategies to bolster qualitative approaches in cancer research are scarce. To promote the unique strengths of qualitative research and increase uptake in the field of oncology, qualitative methods should show quality and credibility on par with quantitative methods. This Review presents recommendations for applied qualitative cancer research generated by multidisciplinary experts who were invited to attend the Symposium on Applied Qualitative Research, held on Nov 11-12, 2024, based on their contributions to the field. First, we describe the interplay between quantitative and qualitative methods and discuss how current research standards for qualitative data reporting are necessary but insufficient for establishing rigour. Second, we propose expert recommendations comprising five key pillars-engagement, flexibility, transparency, transferability, and impact-with actionable examples for application across the cancer research continuum. We advocate for use of these recommendations in the design, conduct, analysis, dissemination, and appraisal of qualitative research in oncology to advance outcomes.

MeSH

Neoplasms, Research, Qualitative Research