Exploring Chronic Congenital Heart Disease Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Methodological Insight

This paper presents a methodological insight in using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method in a study of young adults with chronic congenital heart disease (ACHD). It is not well understood how young adults with CHD make sense of their lives beyond the existing quality of life m...

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Main Authors: Kristy Gonder, Gina Clarkson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-11-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069241300999
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author Kristy Gonder
Gina Clarkson
author_facet Kristy Gonder
Gina Clarkson
author_sort Kristy Gonder
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a methodological insight in using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method in a study of young adults with chronic congenital heart disease (ACHD). It is not well understood how young adults with CHD make sense of their lives beyond the existing quality of life measures. Exploring this research topic guided by the three principles of IPA: (a) phenomenology, (b) hermeneutics, and (c) idiography, we found our study elucidated one’s sense making growing up with a pediatric chronicity; particularly the role of researcher ‘as instrument’ for its centrality as an authentic representation of the lived ‘CHD’ experience unfolded. Decisions relevant to data collection and the analytical phase of the research are presented. Insight further involves discussing methodological integrity and the ethical considerations associated with implementing IPA as the foundational framework. We believe using IPA in a cohort of adult congenital heart disease patients provided an in-depth exploration into the meaningfulness of these individuals’ lives. Our study highlights the value of using hermeneutics to advance the growing body of ACHD evidence and other disease-related research studies. Moreover, using the IPA approach contributes to methodological development by promoting interdisciplinary scholarship that disseminates practical, real-world knowledge.
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spelling doaj-art-bf8b80fe88b04017ba8e19a1c214a79a2024-11-14T11:03:24ZengSAGE PublishingInternational Journal of Qualitative Methods1609-40692024-11-012310.1177/16094069241300999Exploring Chronic Congenital Heart Disease Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Methodological InsightKristy GonderGina ClarksonThis paper presents a methodological insight in using the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method in a study of young adults with chronic congenital heart disease (ACHD). It is not well understood how young adults with CHD make sense of their lives beyond the existing quality of life measures. Exploring this research topic guided by the three principles of IPA: (a) phenomenology, (b) hermeneutics, and (c) idiography, we found our study elucidated one’s sense making growing up with a pediatric chronicity; particularly the role of researcher ‘as instrument’ for its centrality as an authentic representation of the lived ‘CHD’ experience unfolded. Decisions relevant to data collection and the analytical phase of the research are presented. Insight further involves discussing methodological integrity and the ethical considerations associated with implementing IPA as the foundational framework. We believe using IPA in a cohort of adult congenital heart disease patients provided an in-depth exploration into the meaningfulness of these individuals’ lives. Our study highlights the value of using hermeneutics to advance the growing body of ACHD evidence and other disease-related research studies. Moreover, using the IPA approach contributes to methodological development by promoting interdisciplinary scholarship that disseminates practical, real-world knowledge.https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069241300999
spellingShingle Kristy Gonder
Gina Clarkson
Exploring Chronic Congenital Heart Disease Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Methodological Insight
International Journal of Qualitative Methods
title Exploring Chronic Congenital Heart Disease Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Methodological Insight
title_full Exploring Chronic Congenital Heart Disease Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Methodological Insight
title_fullStr Exploring Chronic Congenital Heart Disease Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Methodological Insight
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Chronic Congenital Heart Disease Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Methodological Insight
title_short Exploring Chronic Congenital Heart Disease Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA): A Methodological Insight
title_sort exploring chronic congenital heart disease using interpretative phenomenological analysis ipa a methodological insight
url https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069241300999
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AT ginaclarkson exploringchroniccongenitalheartdiseaseusinginterpretativephenomenologicalanalysisipaamethodologicalinsight