Methodological exemplar of integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence- Supportive care for men with prostate cancer: what are the most important components?

To present a methodological exemplar of integrating findings from a quantitative and qualitative review on the same topic to provide insight into components of care that contribute to supportive care that is acceptable to men with prostate cancer.

Men with prostate cancer are likely to live a long time with the disease, experience side effects from treatment and therefore have ongoing supportive care needs. Quantitative and qualitative reviews have been published but the findings have yet to be integrated.

Integration of quantitative and qualitative synthesised evidence.

Two previously published systematic reviews.

Synthesised evidence on supportive care for men with prostate cancer was integrated from two previously published systematic reviews: a narrative quantitative review and a qualitative review with thematic synthesis. These two streams of synthesised evidence were synthesised using concurrent narrative summary. Data from both reviews were used to develop a set of propositions from which a summary of components of care that likely to contribute to supportive care acceptable to men with prostate cancer were identified.

Nine propositions were developed which covered men's supportive care focusing on the role of health professionals. These propositions were used to compose nine components of care likely to lead to supportive care that is acceptable to men with prostate cancer. Some of these components are no/low cost such as developing a more empathic personalised approach, but more specific approaches need further investigation in randomised controlled trials e.g. online support.

This methodological exemplar demonstrates the integration of quantitative and qualitative synthesised data to determine components of care likely to lead to provision of supportive care acceptable to men with prostate cancer. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Journal of advanced nursing. 2016 Jul 27 [Epub ahead of print]

A L Huntley, A J L King, T H M Moore, C Paterson, R Persad, D Sharp, M Evans

Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PA., Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PA., The National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West (NIHR CLAHRC West) at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, UK. School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK., Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PA., Bristol Urological Institute Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK., Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PA., Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Bristol, BS8 2PA.