Mixed Methods Research: Exploring Critical Illness in Older Adults

IntroductionOlder adults (age ≥65 years) are pursuing increasingly complex, elective surgeries; and, are at higher risk for intraoperative and postoperative complications. Patients and their caregivers frequently struggle with the postoperative recovery process at home, which may contribute to complications. We aim to identify opportunities to intervene during the preoperative period to improve postoperative outcomes by understanding the preparatory behaviours of older adults and their caregivers before a complex, elective surgery.Methods and analysisAs a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will conduct this study via telephone and videoconferencing. Using a multiphase mixed-methods research design, we will collect data on 10–15 patient–caregiver dyads from a pool of older adults (across a spectrum of cognitive abilities) scheduled for an elective colorectal surgery between 1 July 2020 and 30 May 2021. We will collect quantitative and qualitative data before (T1, T2) and after (T3, T4) surgery. Preoperatively, participants will each complete a cognitive assessment and a semi-structured qualitative interview that focuses on their preparatory behaviours (T1). They will then answer questionnaires about mood, self-efficacy and home environment (T2). Three weeks following hospital discharge, participants will complete another qualitative interview focusing on a comparison of preoperative and postoperative preparedness (T3). Researchers will also collect information about the patient’s medical conditions, the postoperative complications and healthcare utilisation from the patient’s chart 30 days following discharge (T4). We will code and conduct thematic analysis of the qualitative data to identify salient themes. Quantitative data will be analysed using basic descriptive statistics to characterise the participants. We will integrate the qualitative and quantitative findings using results from the quantitative scales to group participants and with use of joint display analysis.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the University of Michigan IRB. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences.

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Volunteering Transitions and Change in Quality of Life among Older Adults: A Mixed Methods Research

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics ◽

10.1016/j.archger.2021.104556 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104556

Author(s):

Anne Cattagni Kleiner ◽

Yves Henchoz ◽

Sarah Fustinoni ◽

Laurence Seematter-Bagnoud

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Mixed Methods Research

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Understanding the Complexity of Diabetes and Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults Receiving Home Care Services: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

International Journal of Qualitative Methods ◽

10.1177/1609406919852000 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 160940691985200 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Melissa Northwood ◽

Jenny Ploeg ◽

Maureen Markle-Reid ◽

Diana Sherifali

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Urinary Incontinence ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Home Care ◽

Mixed Methods Research ◽

Home Care Services ◽

Research Attention ◽

Care Services ◽

Care Assessment ◽

Home Care Nurses

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a very prevalent problem for older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) receiving home care services. However, the complexities of living with UI and T2DM and providing nursing care for older adults in the home care context have received very little research attention. This article describes a protocol for a convergent, mixed methods research design study to address this knowledge and practice gap. The objectives of the proposed study are to (a) determine the prevalence and correlates of UI in older adults living with T2DM receiving home care services, (b) explore the experiences of older adults living with T2DM and UI receiving home care services, (c) explore the experiences of home care nurses caring for this population, and (d) converge the multiple data sources to provide a deeper understanding of the problem and implications for provision of home care services to this population. The research methods are informed by a model of clinical complexity. The quantitative strand will involve descriptive and inferential analysis of standardized home care assessment data (interRAI) to determine the prevalence and correlates of UI in older adults with T2DM receiving home care services. Interpretive description methods will be used in the qualitative strand, and interviews will be conducted with older adults and home care nurses. The findings will be converged to inform a better understanding of the complexity of living with these chronic conditions for older adults receiving home care services and generate implications for complex intervention development. This protocol highlights methodological insights in utilizing mixed methods research to inform intervention design.

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Inclusiveness Plus Mixed-Methods: An Innovative Research Design on Transnational Practices of Older Adults

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnab128 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Livia Tomás ◽

Laura Ravazzini

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Research Design ◽

Mixed Methods Research ◽

Design Research ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Research Project ◽

Response Options ◽

And Migration

Abstract This paper assesses the challenges and the benefits of two methodological approaches for improving the study of transnational mobilities of older adults: mixed-methods and inclusiveness. The first approach refers to a mixed-methods research design based on surveys and qualitative interviews. We share our experience of conducting a “fully-mixed-concurrent-equal-status-design” research project, for which we collected data through quantitative surveys on transnational practices of people aged 55+. Furthermore, we conducted semi-structured interviews with adults aged 64+ living or who have lived in Switzerland and spend part of the year in Spain. The second approach relates to the use of an inclusive sample diversified in terms of nationality and migration backgrounds. The inclusive design affects the formulation of questions asked to all participants (and the response options provided in the survey), as well as decisions related to language choices and translations. These factors have to be considered to ensure that older adults from different backgrounds feel included. In a research project on transnational mobility of older adults, conducting an inclusive plus mixed-methods research project pushes researchers to find strategies to balance research objectives with available resources. Maximizing the research team’s methodological background appears to be a suitable approach to address different population groups whilst working within a budget.

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