Analysis of Qualitative Research in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

Nam, Kyoung A

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to analyze the trends in qualitative research articles that from 2004 to 2013 in the Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing and to raise issues for the evolution of qualitative research.
METHODS
Descriptive statistics and qualitative evaluation were used in analysis of fifty qualitative studies. The focus was on research methodology and techniques to establish validity of the study.
RESULTS
Most frequently used methodological orientation was phenomenology (48.0%) and the analytic method was Colaizzi's. Nearly two-thirds of studies focused on general population or psychiatric patients dwelling in community settings. There were no comments on validity in fifteen studies, and in the rest of studies, the description about the techniques to enhance the validity of study were not elaborated.
CONCLUSION
Although qualitative studies in health care environment have increased recently, the proportion of qualitative studies compared with quantitative studies was relatively low in the Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. In order to make qualitative studies useful to nursing research, practice, administration and education, authors employing qualitative research methods should exert efforts to enhance validity of studies.