Danny Meetoo

Issues in Multi-Method Research: Constructing Self-Care

In this article, the authors examine claims that using more than one method in research automatically enhances validity. They argue that if the findings from different methods are the same this does not automatically prove the study is valid. It may show that the researchers looked only for evidence that supported the findings from one method. Complementarity of methods does not mean that different methods have to produce the same findings. That different methods work together as equal partners has to be demonstrated rather than assumed. A study of self-care in relation to people with diabetes is used to draw out some of the issues in the operationalisation of multiple method validation.

Using mixed methods when researching communities.

AIM To argue for the use of mixed methods when researching communities. BACKGROUND Although research involving minority communities is now advanced, not enough effort has been made to formulate methodological linkages between qualitative and quantitative methods in most studies. For instance, the quantitative approaches used by epidemiologists and others in examining the wellbeing of communities are usually empirical. While the rationale for this is sound, quantitative findings can be expanded with data from in-depth qualitative approaches, such as interviews or observations, which are likely to provide insights into the experiences of people in those communities and their relationships with their wellbeing. DATA SOURCES Academic databases including The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, INTERNURSE, Science Direct, Web of Knowledge and PubMed. REVIEW METHODS An iterative process of identifying eligible literature was carried out by comprehensively searching electronic databases. DISCUSSION Using mixed-methods approaches is likely to address any potential drawbacks of individual methods by exploiting the strengths of each at the various stages of research. Combining methods can provide additional ways of looking at a complex problem and improve the understanding of a communitys experiences. However, it is important for researchers to use the different methods interactively during their research. CONCLUSION The use of qualitative and quantitative methods is likely to enrich our understanding of the interrelationship between wellbeing and the experiences of communities. This should help researchers to explore socio-cultural factors and experiences of health and healthcare practice more effectively.

‘Knowing where I am’: self-monitoring of blood glucose in diabetes

Although the prevalence of all types of chronic conditions is increasing, diabetes is one of the few long-term metabolic disorders that individuals can successfully manage, monitor and control on a day-to-day basis. Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is considered an essential component of diabetes self-care management. When used appropriately, SMBG can help to identify factors associated with hyper- and hypoglycaemia, facilitate learning, and empower people with diabetes to make changes to improve their glycaemic control. SMBG can be a useful tool for healthcare providers, who can teach individuals to monitor glucose at specific times to assess the effectiveness of medications and guide medication management. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding whether, as is the case with type 1 diabetes, all people with type 2 diabetes should also be given the opportunity to learn about the value of, and skills required to, monitor blood glucose as appropriate to their specific needs.