Content Analysis in Critical and Emergency Care: A Discussion Paper

IntroductionContent analysis, although firstly introduced in social sciences as a qualitative research method, has become a popular method for inquiry in healthcare sciences, including emergency and critical care nursing.AimThe aim of content analysis is to interpret qualitative data through coding and analytical identification of themes or schemas.ResultsThere are different forms of content analysis, according to the aim of the study, (a) the conventional approach, (b) the direct approach, and (c) the summative approach. The depth of the analysis is defined by the degree to which the researcher reveals the covered meanings included in data. The range of the analysis is defined by the number of the identified themes and relevant categories of themes, and mainly of how abstract is the identified association among the different categories of themes. Balancing the strengths against the researcher-identified limitations and other weaknesses of the study, the researchers determine the value or trustworthiness of study findings, aiming to increase the transferability of the findings to other populations.ConclusionQualitative research is under-used as a research method in emergency and critical care despite the limitless variations of clinical research questions that can be investigated through this method of inquiry and relevant study designs, including content analysis.