Health Transition Fund Final Report - Projects Listed By Subject Area

Survey (see SD2, Appendix D). Training sessions were conducted with interviewers/observers prior to
data collection by the principal investigator for this phase of the project who has an extensive theoretical
and experiential basis in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
2.6 Data Analysis
The data collected from the provincial/territorial statutes, regulatory bodies, ministries of health,
nursing associations, and administrative personnel at various sites were summarized and described
according to key variables. Further in-depth analysis of these data bases provided the Project Team with
the necessary information to select appropriate sites for data collection in three provinces.
The taped interviews were transcribed verbatim and checked for accuracy. Interpretive summaries
were compiled for each transcribed data set. The interpretive summaries were forwarded to each
participant for review and confirmation. A modified version of the constant comparative method of analysis
as defined by Glaser and Strauss (1967) was applied to each data set by a minimum of two raters/coders
(the principle investigator and research assistants) working independently. Debriefing sessions were held
regularly to discuss major themes and to identify the conceptual categories and properties being generated
by the initial joint coding and analysis.
The categories in the participant observation checklists were developed based on commonalties
found in a review of provincial regulations and nursing associations/colleges standards of practice and
competencies for nurse practitioners. Data sets were reviewed to locate incidents of relevant content for
each category. Counts of the number of times key components were identified in the data were tabulated.
The data from the patient/client surveys were analyzed using descriptive and parametric statistical
analysis. Descriptive statistics included appropriate summary measures and frequency distributions. A
series of one-way analysis of variances were conducted to determine if there were variations across sites.
An alpha value of 0.91 for the current study suggested that the satisfaction scale had strong internal
consistency.
The Centre for Nursing Studies in collaboration with
The Institute for the Advancement of Public Policy, Inc. 13