Background
Sexually transmitted infections
Genito-urinary symptoms
Care-seeking behaviour
Rationale for this study
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Collecting and analysing both qualitative and quantitative data in a single study
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Integrating the different forms of data after separate quantitative and qualitative analyses
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Study design determined by the research questions [18]
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Priority given to explanatory qualitative data
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Study is theoretically grounded drawing on pragmatism
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Using mixed methods for “the broad pursuit of breadth and depth of understanding” ([19] p123)
Aim and research questions
Methods and design
Study design
Study setting
Quantitative strand
Natsal-3 survey data
Quantitative data analysis
Symptoms reported | Crude number of symptoms reported in Natsal-3 survey interview (past month) | Symptoms reported by qualitative participants during Natsal-3 interview (past month) | Symptoms reported by qualitative participants during semi-structured interview (ever) |
---|---|---|---|
Women | |||
Pain, burning or stinging when passing urine | 384 | 2 | 14 |
Genital wart/lump | 35 | 1 | 0 |
Genital ulcer/sore | 25 | 3 | 1 |
Abnormal vaginal discharge | 236 | 0 | 13 |
Unpleasant odour associated with vaginal discharge | 206 | 4 | 5 |
Vaginal pain during sex | 304 | 1 | 8 |
Abnormal bleeding between periods | 245 | 4 | 6 |
Bleeding after sex (not during a period) | 154 | 1 | 3 |
Lower abdominal or pelvic pain (not related to periods) | 305 | 5 | 9 |
Men | |||
Pain, burning or stinging when passing urine | 101 | 3 | 7 |
Genital wart/lump | 27 | 1 | 2 |
Genital ulcer/sore | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Discharge from the end of the penis | 19 | 1 | 2 |
Painful testicles | 93 | 7 | 8 |
Qualitative strand
Sampling and data collection
Qualitative data analysis
Quality appraisal
Integration of findings
Research question | Quantitative findings | Qualitative findings | Integrated findings – agreement/ partial agreement/ silence/ dissonance |
---|---|---|---|
1. What are the social representations of STIs? | |||
2. How does stigma influence experiences of genito-urinary symptoms and care-seeking? | |||
3. How do people interpret genito-urinary symptoms? | |||
4. Why do some people with genito-urinary symptoms not seek care at sexual health clinics? |
Participant ID number | Gender | Symptoms experienced past month | Symptoms experienced ever | Previous STI diagnoses | Suspected cause of symptoms | Hypothetical preferred service provider | Actual care-seeking for symptoms |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | |||||||
2 | |||||||
3 | |||||||
4 | |||||||
Etc.… |