Evidence-based care: enhancing the rigour of a qualitative study

Qualitative research methodology is a suitable approach for clinical inquiry into nursing practice, leading to theory development and advancement in clinical practice. Rigour is necessary to enhance the consistency and quality of qualitative research. It is the framework for demonstrating credibility and integrity of the qualitative research process. Methodological decisions regarding rigour can have implications for the quality, integrity and interpretability of the findings. Rigour, therefore, is a principle that should be present during all stages of the research study, from its inception to the writing of the final report. For qualitative researchers, reaching the desired goal and meeting the requirements of rigour become particularly problematic due to the considerable debate about what it means to do valid research in the field of qualitative inquiry. This article outlines methods that can be used to maintain rigour in a qualitative study, including member-checking, peer debriefing, audit trail and reflexivity.