Analysing one dataset with two qualitative methods: The distress of general practitioners, a thematic and interpretative phenomenological analysis

ABSTRACT

General practitioners (GPs) in the United Kingdom are vulnerable to poor mental health. We conducted a qualitative study aiming to uncover barriers to help-seeking for this group. Forty-seven GPs were interviewed about depression, anxiety, stress, and/or burnout. Transcripts contained data of pragmatic and existential interest. We wished to explore data for breadth and depth, giving due recognition to participants’ complex accounts. Therefore, we conducted a dual analysis of the dataset, applying thematic analysis to transcripts from the full sample and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to a subsample: GP partners with more than 10 years’ experience. This article makes transparent our analytic process and compares findings from the two methods, which complemented one another to produce a multi-layered understanding of the phenomena. The methods demonstrated breadth versus depth, explicit versus hermeneutic interpretation, and pragmatic versus existential. We conclude that pairing thematic analysis and IPA is useful for analytic pluralism.

KEYWORDS:

• Analytic pluralism
• general practice
• interpretative phenomenological analysis
• mental health
• thematic analysis

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by NIHR SPCR, grant number 282

Notes on contributors

Johanna Spiers

Johanna Spiers is a Qualitative Health Psychologist who has used methods including interpretative phenomenological analysis, thematic analysis, and framework analysis to explore a range of chronic health conditions. These include renal failure, HIV, and chronic stress.

Ruth Riley

Ruth Riley is a Qualitative Medical Sociologist who is interested in the health and wellbeing of health care professionals and understanding the causes of stress/mental distress, the enactment and cost of emotional labour, the experiences of individuals in the workplace, and improving access to support and working conditions for health staff.