• Charlotte J Whiffin, Brandon G Smith, SelveindranSanthani MSMNIHR Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Addenbrooke's Hospital, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Neurosurgery, Cambridge, United Kingdom., Tom Bashford, Ignatius N Esene, Harry Mee, M Tariq Barki, Ronnie E Baticulon, Kathleen J Khu, Peter J Hutchinson, and Angelos G Kolias.
• College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby, United Kingdom; NIHR Global Health Research Group on Neurotrauma, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Addenbrooke's Hospital, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Neurosurgery, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Electronic address: c.whiffin@derby.ac.uk.
• World Neurosurg. 2022 May 1; 161: 441449441-449.

ObjectiveTo explore the value and potential of qualitative research to neurosurgery and provide insight and understanding to this underused methodology.MethodsThe definition of qualitative research is critically discussed and the heterogeneity within this field of inquiry explored. The value of qualitative research to the field of neurosurgery is articulated through its contribution to understanding complex clinical problems.DiscussionTo resolve some of the misunderstanding of qualitative research, this paper discusses research design choices. We explore approaches that use qualitative techniques but are not, necessarily, situated within a qualitative paradigm in addition to how qualitative research philosophy aids researchers to conduct interpretive inquiry that can reveal more than simply what was said by participants. Common research designs associated with qualitative inquiry are introduced, and how complex analysis may contribute more in-depth insights is explained. Approaches to quality are discussed briefly to support improvements in qualitative methods and qualitative manuscripts. Finally, we consider the future of qualitative research in neurosurgery, and suggest how to move forward in the qualitative neurosurgical evidence base.ConclusionsThere is enormous potential for qualitative research to contribute to the advancement of person-centered care within neurosurgery. There are signs that more qualitative research is being conducted and that neurosurgical journals are increasingly open to this methodology. While studies that do not engage fully within the qualitative paradigm can make important contributions to the evidence base, due regard should be given to immersive inquiry within qualitative paradigms to allow complex, in-depth, investigations of the human experience.Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

9 keywords...

hide…