Qualitative Research and Its Importance in Adapting Interventions

Systematic approaches are essential when adapting interventions, so the adapted intervention is feasible, acceptable, and holds promise for positive outcomes in the new target population and/or setting. Qualitative research is critical to this process. The purpose of this article is to provide an example of how qualitative research was used to guide the adaptation a web-based intervention for family carers of persons with dementia residing in long-term care (LTC) and to discuss challenges associated with using qualitative methodologies in this regard. Four steps are outlined: (a) choosing an intervention to adapt, (b) validating the conceptual framework of the intervention, (c) revising the intervention, and (d) conducting a feasibility study. Challenges with respect to decontextualization and subjective reality are discussed, with suggestions provided on how to overcome them. The result of this process was a feasible and acceptable web-based intervention to support family carers of persons with dementia residing in LTC.