Research for the Researchers: Qualitative Research in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry: Getting to the Why and the How. A Research SIG-Sponsored Presentation.

Abstract: Consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatrists thrive in complexity. We recognize how much is unknown, develop expertise in understanding patient and clinician narratives, and ask systematically about the patient, clinician, and health systems factors that impact patient outcomes. Many of our clinical and scholarly questions focus on how and why, questions that may be best explored using qualitative methods. Qualitative research includes methodological approaches utilizing non-quantitative data from sources such as narratives, interviews, and focus groups. It provides a lens into the lived experiences of patients and clinicians and holds unique potential to improve health equity by amplifying marginalized voices.

Historically, psychiatric research has overemphasized quantitative methodologies. This may be due to misconceptions about qualitative research, including that it is not rigorous, unlikely to be supported by funders, or too time-consuming to be practical. As a result, many C-L psychiatrists have minimal exposure to qualitative methods. However, qualitative methods can be instrumental in informing innovative educational programs and clinical practices in C-L psychiatry that align with promoting whole health and health equity.

Qualitative methods can help C-L psychiatrists identify barriers and facilitators to effective care, inform intervention adaptation, explore the effects of interventions on patients and caregivers, and integrate the input of multiple stakeholder groups to improve clinical programs. Using qualitative methods can help C-L educators find ways to foster empathy, teach communication skills, and promote a deeper understanding of patient experiences among trainees.

In this interactive workshop, we provide an overview of approaches to collecting (e.g., semi-structured interviews) and analyzing (e.g., grounded theory, thematic analysis, rapid qualitative analysis) qualitative data with a focus on a) interpreting qualitative studies, b) using qualitative methods in C-L psychiatry, and c) demonstrating how qualitative research advances scholarship in our field.

Workshop faculty will review the components of a qualitative project, focusing on feasibility for clinicians and educators. Participants will develop a framework for sample size, recruitment, data analysis, and reporting qualitative findings. Each speaker will illustrate key points by sharing their C-L psychiatry qualitative projects. During the didactic portion of the workshop, participants will engage with scholarly “case-based learning” vignettes through audience response polls. Subsequently, participants will participate in small-group “qualitative project brainstorms” and large-group report-outs of brainstorming breakout groups.

Agenda:

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  12-minutes: Dr. Daniel Shalev will introduce qualitative methodologies, emphasizing their relevance and applicability in C-L Psychiatry.
  
  
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  12-minutes: Dr. Elizabeth Madva will describe qualitative research as an integral early step in developing novel behavioral interventions in C-L psychiatry.
  
  
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  12-minutes: Dr. Kelly Irwin will discuss using qualitative methods to increase equity in clinical program design and research based on her community-based participatory research program to improve cancer care for individuals with serious mental illness.
  
  
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  12-minutes: Dr. Kewchang Lee will cover the application of qualitative methods to develop and assess educational interventions in C-L psychiatry.
  
  
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  15-minutes: Plan your own qualitative project: Participants will use a worksheet to plan the basic components of a qualitative project and will exchange feedback in small breakout groups.
  
  
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  12-minutes: Large group discussion on project ideas with feedback from faculty.