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Healthcare
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Application of Qualitative Methods and Mixed Designs in Healthcare
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Application of Qualitative Methods and Mixed Designs in Healthcare

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 11928

Editors

Dr. Jorge Pérez-Corrales

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science (Hum&QRinHS), 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
Interests: mental health; neurology; rare diseases; community health; interdisciplinary research; occupational therapy; rehabilitation sciences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cristina Garciá-Bravo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Research Group of Humanities and Qualitative Research in Health Science (Hum&QRinHS), 28922 Alcorcón, Spain
Interests: neurology; rare diseases; community health; interdisciplinary research; occupational therapy; rehabilitation; virtual reality; exergames

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Qualitative research and mixed designs play a crucial role in advancing the field of health sciences. These approaches allow for a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of patients, caregivers, and health professionals, enabling the exploration of complex phenomena that cannot be fully captured through quantitative methods alone. By integrating diverse perspectives, these methods contribute to the creation of contextually relevant, person-centered solutions in healthcare.

In recent years, the need for holistic approaches in health research has grown, as we face challenges such as increasing health disparities, the complexities of chronic illness management, and the demand for culturally competent care. Qualitative research provides insights into the "why" and "how" behind health behaviors, while mixed designs offer the strength of combining qualitative depth with quantitative rigor, creating a more comprehensive understanding of health-related issues.

This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research that highlights the application of qualitative methods and mixed designs in addressing pressing health concerns. Topics may include, but are not limited to, patient-centered care, health equity, mental health, rare diseases, neurology, co-creation of interventions, and the evaluation of policies and programs. By bringing together contributions from diverse disciplines, this issue seeks to inspire innovative approaches and encourage collaboration in the pursuit of better health outcomes for all.

We invite researchers and practitioners to share their work and insights, advancing the role of qualitative and mixed methodologies in transforming health research and practice.

Kind regards,

Dr. Jorge Pérez-Corrales
Dr. Cristina Garciá-Bravo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • qualitative methods
  • mixed designs
  • healthcare research
  • patient-centered care
  • interdisciplinary approaches
  • evidence-based practice

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 249 KB  
Article
Conducting Couple Interviews in Health Research: Methodological Lessons from Later-Life Caregiving Dyads
by Katharina Niedling
Healthcare 2026, 14(7), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14070889 - 31 Mar 2026
Viewed by 582
Abstract
Background: Qualitative health research increasingly emphasizes relational and interactional processes in illness and caregiving; however, joint interview formats remain methodologically under-theorized. This article advances a relational and power-sensitive reconceptualization of the couple interview by conceptualizing the interview encounter itself as an interactional site [...] Read more.
Background: Qualitative health research increasingly emphasizes relational and interactional processes in illness and caregiving; however, joint interview formats remain methodologically under-theorized. This article advances a relational and power-sensitive reconceptualization of the couple interview by conceptualizing the interview encounter itself as an interactional site in which caregiving relations become observable in real time rather than merely reported retrospectively. Methods: The article draws on seven in-home couple interviews with long-married older heterosexual couples in Germany, in which one partner provided long-term home-based care for the other. The analysis applies the Documentary Method to reconstruct jointly produced meanings, collective orientations, and the micro-interactional dynamics of the interview situation itself. Results: The analysis shows that couple interviews provide a distinctive methodological lens for studying dyadic caregiving by rendering co-narration, negotiated speaker roles, “we”-positioning, speaking-for-the-other, and embodied coordination analytically visible. Interactional asymmetries, interruptions, and situational role shifts thus emerge not only as challenges but as epistemic resources for reconstructing caregiving relationships and power dynamics. Based on this analysis, the article develops a three-part practice-oriented methodological toolkit comprising relational interviewing strategies, moderation practices, and systematic observation and documentation markers. Conclusions: By reframing the couple interview as an interactional event and specifying analytic markers and conduct strategies, this article makes an explicit methodological contribution to dyadic qualitative health research, particularly in sensitive later-life caregiving contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Qualitative Methods and Mixed Designs in Healthcare)
18 pages, 276 KB  
Article
Coping with Death Among Nurses in Ecuador: A Mixed-Methods Study
by Mónica Alexandra Valdiviezo-Maygua, Abigail Rivas-Lorefice, Alejandro Martínez-Granados, Daniel Puente-Fernández, Concepción Capilla-Díaz and Rafael Montoya-Juárez
Healthcare 2026, 14(5), 603; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14050603 - 27 Feb 2026
Viewed by 618
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Coping with death is an essential yet challenging aspect of nursing. In Ecuador, limited training and cultural factors may influence how nurses face the process of death and dying. This study aimed to explore nurses’ perspectives and highlight the degree of congruence [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Coping with death is an essential yet challenging aspect of nursing. In Ecuador, limited training and cultural factors may influence how nurses face the process of death and dying. This study aimed to explore nurses’ perspectives and highlight the degree of congruence between the numerical and discursive data provided by participants. Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design (QUAN → qual) using questionnaires and qualitative interviews was employed. The quantitative phase included 497 nurses who completed the Bugen Coping with Death Scale and the qualitative phase involved semi-structured interviews with 18 nurses. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Integration occurred at the methodological level—through the building of the qualitative data collection instrument—and at the levels of analysis and interpretation. Results: Nurses demonstrated moderate coping levels on the Bugen Coping with Death Scale. Although many reported being comfortable discussing death, qualitative data revealed substantial emotional distress and limited preparedness—particularly when facing their own mortality or the death of loved ones. Nurses expressed fear of suffering, sadness, and helplessness, especially when caring for dying children or young mothers. Communication with patients and families at the end of life emerged as a major challenge. Spirituality was identified as a key coping resource. Conclusions: Coping with death remains a complex and emotionally demanding process for nurses in Ecuador. Continuous education, emotional support, and training in spiritual and psychological dimensions of care are essential to strengthen nurses’ resilience and enhance the quality of care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Qualitative Methods and Mixed Designs in Healthcare)
17 pages, 839 KB  
Article
Perceptions of Individuals/Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders About Their Diagnosis, Information Seeking and Treatment Expectations: A Comparative Qualitative Study of Brazilian and Spanish Individuals
by Luana Maria Ramos Mendes, María Palacios-Ceña, Domingo Palacios-Ceña, María-Luz Cuadrado, Farzin Falahat, Miguel Alonso-Juarranz, Jene Carolina Silva Marçal, Milena Dietrich Deitos Rosa, Débora Bevilaqua-Grossi and Lidiane Lima Florencio
Healthcare 2026, 14(2), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14020227 - 16 Jan 2026
Viewed by 959
Abstract
Background: Considering the significant impact on quality of life and the chronic nature of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), seeking healthcare is also part of the reality of individuals with this disorder. However, cultural differences and similarities in the experiences of individuals with TMD have [...] Read more.
Background: Considering the significant impact on quality of life and the chronic nature of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD), seeking healthcare is also part of the reality of individuals with this disorder. However, cultural differences and similarities in the experiences of individuals with TMD have not yet been investigated. This study aimed to describe and compare the experiences, beliefs, and sociocultural factors of Brazilian and Spanish individuals with TMD, focusing on their perceptions of the disorder, diagnostic pathways, information-seeking behaviors, and treatment expectations. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted. A purposive sample of 50 participants (25 Brazilian, 25 Spanish), aged 18–50 and diagnosed with TMD according to DC/TMD criteria, was recruited. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Six themes emerged, revealing both similarities and differences between the groups. Brazilian participants reported uncertainty about which professional to consult and difficulty accessing specialized care. In contrast, Spanish participants frequently sought physical therapists as their first option and identified them as primary sources of information. Beliefs about TMD etiology varied across samples. Treatment expectations also differed. Brazilians emphasized the difficulty of obtaining effective care, while Spanish participants perceived physiotherapy as being limited to muscular disorders. Perceptions of occlusal splint effectiveness showed variation between the groups. Conclusions: These findings underscore the necessity of culturally sensitive approaches to patient care that address not only clinical aspects, but also the sociocultural context that influences health behaviors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Qualitative Methods and Mixed Designs in Healthcare)
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20 pages, 2552 KB  
Article
Parental Concerns and Active Participation in Home-Based Vojta Therapy for Children with Global Developmental Delay: A Qualitative Study Using Interviews and Photo-Elicitation
by Ana San-Martín-Gómez, Carmen Jiménez-Antona, María Salcedo-Perez-Juana, Livia Gomes Viana-Meireles and Domingo Palacios-Ceña
Healthcare 2026, 14(1), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14010104 - 1 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1505
Abstract
Introduction: Parents of children presenting global developmental delay (GDD) need to be involved in their therapy to intensify treatment. Vojta therapy (VT) is an intensive physiotherapeutic treatment that can be administered at home. Whilst parental experience of Home-Based Program (HBP) for preterm or [...] Read more.
Introduction: Parents of children presenting global developmental delay (GDD) need to be involved in their therapy to intensify treatment. Vojta therapy (VT) is an intensive physiotherapeutic treatment that can be administered at home. Whilst parental experience of Home-Based Program (HBP) for preterm or cerebral palsy is well documented, there is a lack of understanding about parents of GDD children on HBP with VT. Objectives: The aim of this work was to describe parents’ perspectives concerning their participation in, concerns with, and perception of the results of an HBP with VT. Methods: A qualitative case design based on an interpretative approach was presented. A purposeful sampling was used. Data was collected in two stages: firstly, semi-structured interviews, and secondly, photo-elicitation. An inductive thematic analysis was used. Results: Seventeen parents were included. Three themes emerged from parents’ perspectives. Firstly, parents’ active participation in VT, which includes their desire to become an active agent to contribute to their child’s improvement, their implication of compromise, learning process, time required, effort, and factors that influence their adherence and continuity. Secondly, parents’ perception of the results achieved: motor improvement and better resting, feeding, and breathing; and time and commitment required to achieve them. Thirdly, parents’ initial concerns about suitability, daily implementation, therapy functioning, or evidence, as well as concerns about emotional bonds. Conclusions: Parents universally perceive that their commitment and efforts were rewarded. They recognized that the emotional bond with their child was strengthened by the therapy. The results regarding the beneficial effects perceived by the parents should be treated with caution, as no instruments for assessing the effect or efficacy were used in this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Qualitative Methods and Mixed Designs in Healthcare)
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16 pages, 253 KB  
Article
Life History, Identity, and Recovery in People with Mental Health Conditions: A Phenomenological Study Using OPHI-II
by Olga I. Fernández-Rodríguez, Alicia Cal-Herrera, María Fernández-Blanco, Paloma Guillén-Rogel, Beatriz Fernández-Díez and Raquel Martínez-Sinovas
Healthcare 2026, 14(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14010003 - 19 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1536
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Mental health recovery is conceived as a personal process going beyond symptom remission and thus involving identity reconstruction, search for meaning and active participation in everyday life. This study aimed to analyze the influence of life history, identity, competence [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Mental health recovery is conceived as a personal process going beyond symptom remission and thus involving identity reconstruction, search for meaning and active participation in everyday life. This study aimed to analyze the influence of life history, identity, competence and context on the recovery process of people with mental illness. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted and registered in the Open Science Framework. Participants were 159 individuals diagnosed with mental disorders who attended a community mental health association. Data were collected using the standardized Occupational Performance History Interview-II (OPHI-II) and analyzed through an inductive phenomenological approach with researcher triangulation. Results: Findings showed that life history is central to recovery, as it helps rebuild identity, recognize personal capacities and restore a sense of continuity. Daily occupations and social support emerged as key factors for inclusion and participation. Conclusions: Results highlight the importance of integrating biographical narratives and occupational perspective into mental health interventions through a standardized tool that surpasses traditional diagnosis-based or methodologically weak approaches. This perspective fosters practices aligned with individuals’ values, goals and contexts, promoting autonomy, empowerment, and social inclusion. These findings may inform person-centered recovery programs in community services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Qualitative Methods and Mixed Designs in Healthcare)
23 pages, 1223 KB  
Article
Mental Health Recovery Process Through Art: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Multi-Center Study of an Art-Based Community Project
by Jaume Cases-Cunillera, Ruben del Río Sáez, Josep Manel Santos-López and Salvador Simó-Algado
Healthcare 2025, 13(10), 1103; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101103 - 9 May 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5242
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Art-based community projects positively impact mental health recovery by fostering creativity, self-expression, and social engagement. Despite growing evidence on participatory art interventions, limited studies have used a mixed-methods approach to examine their effects. The present study examines how participation in the Artistic [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Art-based community projects positively impact mental health recovery by fostering creativity, self-expression, and social engagement. Despite growing evidence on participatory art interventions, limited studies have used a mixed-methods approach to examine their effects. The present study examines how participation in the Artistic Couples project influences individuals’ subjective perceptions of recovery, psychological well-being, and self-stigma. Methods: This exploratory multi-center study employed an embedded mixed-methods design, integrating qualitative Photovoice methodology with a quantitative pre–post survey. Participants (N = 30) from five mental health institutions across Catalonia engaged in collaborative art creation with local artists. Qualitative data from Photovoice discussions and semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, while quantitative data from standardized measures were examined using paired t-tests and correlation analysis. Results: Qualitative findings revealed the following three key themes: (1) artmaking as an artistic couple, emphasizing the collaborative process and art as a means of self-expression; (2) social connections, highlighting increased belonging, emotional support, and reduced loneliness; and (3) understanding mental health recovery, showcasing art’s role in identity reconstruction and personal growth. Quantitative results indicated a significant improvement in the “Connecting and Belonging” subscale of the RAS-DS (t = −2.51; p = 0.023), particularly among women (t = −2.85; p = 0.019), suggesting enhanced social integration. However, no statistically significant changes were observed in overall recovery, well-being, or self-stigma scores. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that participatory community art projects enhance social connections and self-expression, which are key elements of mental health recovery. The findings suggest that creative collaborations facilitate emotional processing and challenge stigma. The improvement in social belonging supports integrating arts-based interventions in recovery-oriented care. Future research should examine long-term effects and gender-sensitive approaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Qualitative Methods and Mixed Designs in Healthcare)
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