Page 53 - APPENDIX B: Trials Investigating the Management of Acute Radiation-Induced Skin Reactions Reading Qualitative Research
P. 53
53
WOUND CARE
from the answer choices provided. Survey follow up section requested consent for participating
in telephone interview, which is the next phase of the project.
Data analysis (Phase II). A mixed method synthesis was planned for the data analysis
of the FluidSurveys ™ and the qualitative telephone interviews. All available information was
considered together as the data types are mutually informing. The data analysis features from the
FluidSurveys ™ service were used to create a report with appropriate tables, charts and graphs.
Basic descriptive statistics were used to organize, describe and explore data using graphs and
numerical summaries. The most important finding in the “current practice analysis” was to
explain whether there is consistency or inconsistency in relation to radiating through dressings.
The open text response details were examined for similarities or differences in the "other"
specific answers, apart from the answer choices provided. Since missing data such as “don’t
know” answer can result in biased results, the extent of the problem was analyzed by examining
frequency distributions on each of the questions in the survey with the option of “don’t know”
answer (Polit & Beck, 2012). The extent of missing data was reported and the problem was
addressed at that point, depending on the degree to which the issue affected the central analysis.
Phase III: Qualitative Telephone Interviews.
As this was an “opportunity to triangulate data sources”, four consenting nurse
respondents with different roles and from separate provinces were contacted out of the six
participants willing to be interviewed (Polit & Beck, 2012, p. 626). I selected these four
participants (n=4) using a “convenience sampling” strategy based on practical issues such as
accessibility and scheduling interviews across various time zones (Polit & Beck, p. 516). Two
survey participants had explained, “Not possible to assure dedicated time;” and “Sorry, probably
not the best person to ask. Although I am involved in education in the radiation department, I do

