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WOUND CARE

Data analysis of qualitative interviews (Phase III). Each telephone interview was

transcribed verbatim by this writer to ensure accuracy. Polit and Beck (2012) posit, “Qualitative

analysis begins with data organization” (p. 558). I developed broad categories based on the

interview guide and carefully coded data from each of the interviews under the categories.

Themes often emerge from within categories of data, but may also be seen intertwined across

them (Polit & Beck, p. 562). The thematic analytic process involved the identification of both

commonalities and natural differences across the participants.

My supervisor, Dr. Reimer-Kirkham, reviewed coding of the first two transcripts for

accuracy and was involved in consultations around the emerging themes and patterns that

evolved from the data. Dr. Kohr, second reader on my supervisory committee, was also

involved at key points in the analysis process through discussions around emerging findings. As

mentioned earlier, during the data analysis member-checking was used to contact the

participants to validate that “the themes accurately represent the perspectives of the participants”

(Polit & Beck, 2012, p. 563). In the final stage, the various themes were inter-related to provide

an overall structure regarding the context of nursing practice environment in radiation oncology,

particularly in the area of wound management.

Phase IV: Consensus-building Process

In order to ensure relevance and acceptability, consultation with a spectrum of clinical

experts was initiated through the consensus-building process. An executive summary of findings

(See Appendix F: Executive Summary for Consensus-building) from all the previous phases

were presented to six experts. Five (n = 5) of the six expert consultants selected for the

consensus-building process and invited to provide feedback to the executive summary,