Re: An open letter to The BMJ editors on qualitative research
The BMJ caters for qualitative studies in its other publications.
Loder and colleagues' response to the 83 academic signatories who invite them to reconsider their policy of rejecting qualitative research on the grounds of low priority is appropriate and commendable. They affirm their aim to publish studies with more definitive - not exploratory - research questions which are most likely to change clinical practice and help doctors make better decisions but they also acknowledge that qualitative questions can only be answered by qualitative methods. My interest is in end-of-life care which the BMJ addresses in other publications such as BMJ Open and BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care both of which have a strong focus on qualitative research.
Rapid Response:
Re: An open letter to The BMJ editors on qualitative research
The BMJ caters for qualitative studies in its other publications.
Loder and colleagues' response to the 83 academic signatories who invite them to reconsider their policy of rejecting qualitative research on the grounds of low priority is appropriate and commendable. They affirm their aim to publish studies with more definitive - not exploratory - research questions which are most likely to change clinical practice and help doctors make better decisions but they also acknowledge that qualitative questions can only be answered by qualitative methods. My interest is in end-of-life care which the BMJ addresses in other publications such as BMJ Open and BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care both of which have a strong focus on qualitative research.
ijdhamilton@doctors.org.uk
Competing interests: No competing interests