Pharmacy practice research can benefit from research that uses both ‘numbers’ (quantitative) and ‘words’ (qualitative) to develop a strong evidence base to support pharmacy-led services. In the first article of the pair we introduced the basic concepts of mixed-methods R428 clinical trial research including its definition, advantages and typologies. In this second article the rationale, applications, limitations and challenges of conducting a mixed-methods study are discussed. A framework to improve quality of reporting mixed-methods studies is also proposed for researchers and

reviewers. Not all research problems require mixed-methods enquiry and therefore the rationale for choosing a mixed-methods approach should always be presented. A literature review by MK-1775 manufacturer Greene et al. in 1989 identified five reasons for conducting mixed-methods research including triangulation, complementarity, development, initiation and expansion

(explained below).[1] In 2006, in a review of social science literature, Bryman expanded the list and identified 16 reasons for conducting mixed-methods research.[2] To date the use of mixed-methods research in pharmacy practice is relatively limited. To illustrate this point, a quick Medline and EMBASE search combining the keywords ‘mixed-methods’ or ‘multi-methods’ with ‘pharmacy’ or ‘Pharmacist’ resulted only in 33 hits (after deduplication; date of search 2 April 2012). However, it should be noted here that it was not a comprehensive search to locate all mixed-methods studies but rather it aimed to identify examples and highlight the limited use of mixed-methods research in the field of pharmacy practice. In this section we will explore some examples of how pharmacy practice researchers have used mixed methods together with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the reporting within each study. We have purposively selected these examples to illustrate the five reasons

identified by Greene et al.[1] for using a mixed-methods approach. Triangulation Fenbendazole seeks convergence, corroboration and correspondence of results from different methods’.[1] Guirguis used a mixed-methods approach (concurrent triangulation) to study pharmacists’ experiences and beliefs about an interactive communication approach, the three prime questions (3PQs) model.[3] Developed in the USA, 3PQs is a patient-centred model designed to assess the patient’s knowledge and recognize information deficits before providing education. The quantitative methods included pharmacist self-report forms to record their experiences using the 3PQs and a 19-item questionnaire survey (16 closed and three open-ended questions) for evaluating pharmacist self-efficacy and role beliefs towards 3PQs. The qualitative method included a focus-group interview to elaborate on the pharmacists’ experience using 3PQs.