Study design and method
The study combines questionnaires and qualitative methods to gain both breadth and depth in the knowledge of workflow.
The study is carried out as a mixed methods project. This means that quantitative and qualitative methods are combined to shed light on the issue from several angles.
First, a national survey is conducted among Norwegian pathology laboratories.
The questionnaires map how the work is organised, which systems and technological solutions are used, where there is waiting or queuing, and what improvement opportunities the professional communities themselves point to.
The findings from the survey are then used as a basis for further qualitative data collection, including observations and/or in-depth interviews. The quantitative part provides an overview of the extent and variation, while the qualitative part will help explain how and why differences arise.
The study is descriptive and analytical. It will not rank laboratories, but provide a knowledge base for understanding workflow, capacity and opportunities for improvement across academic environments.
In the method description, the study is described as an explanatory sequential design, where quantitative data from questionnaires are first collected and analysed, and then inform the qualitative part. Mixed methods are suitable for investigating complex processes and systems in the health service, because quantitative data can show patterns and extent, while qualitative data can explain why and how a phenomenon occurs.