General Call for papers: The Annals of Family Medicine always welcomes rigorous mixed-method and qualitative research and methodology papers that advance the science of primary care and evidence-based care delivery.
The challenges that face primary care practice involve many factors at the patient, provider, team and clinic, and system levels. The Annals of Family Medicine seeks manuscripts that advance our understanding of these complex relationships, recognizing that efforts to improve practice have both intended and unintended consequences.
Qualitative methods then, help elucidate the how and why underlying what is measured quantitatively. Mixed-method approaches reflect the explicit, planned integration of quantitative and qualitative methods in the same study or phase of a larger study.
The Annals values the insights of qualitative research; the studies must show how novel data apply to a specific gap in knowledge or an unanswered theoretical question. Ideally, they would also include contrasting results and comparisons among subgroups, systems of care, and over time. Further, such an analysis should provide clear direction for a future intervention—that is, indicate what the field should do next with these data. Simple, descriptive qualitative studies are not enough.
As with all submissions to the Annals, we are eager to report on efforts to change practice and encourage appropriate and rigorous methods that advance this science. Submit your mixed-method or qualitative original research paper today.