Introduction
As in many developed nations, the treatment of cancer in Australia often involves a high number of state institutions, such as health centres. The Sydney Cancer Centre is one such state institution and is located at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of cancer treatment measures in the Sydney Cancer Centre.
The study objectives included finding out whether the facility provides the required health services to cancer patients and their families, to determine the number of cancer specialists and their education level in the facility, as well exposing the number of cancer patients served in a day. Overall, the study enhanced the proper understanding of the effectiveness (or the rate at which services are provided) through the analysis of the number of health specialists working in the Sydney Cancer Centre and the number of cancer patients attended per day.
The Sydney Cancer Centre is primarily charged with providing cancer-related treatment to the New South Wales region. The facility is renowned, both nationally and internationally, due to its large concentration of cancer specialists. As a result, the Centre is capable of treating various types of cancer. The Sydney Cancer Centre offers comprehensive care programmes to cancer patients and their families, exclusively at the Centre as well as through its affiliation with the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) and the University of Sydney. In 2013, the facility is slated to transition into the Chris O’Brien Life-house at RPA in order to become a global treatment and research facility for cancer and cancer related diseases (Sydney Cancer Centre, 2012).
Sampling and Data Collection and Methods
The study focused its attention on the effectiveness of cancer treatment measures in the Sydney Cancer Centre. To achieve this core objective, the study narrowed its scope on a single, but knowledgeable, respondent. In this instance, the respondent who was chosen had been receiving cancer treatment in the facility for the last twelve months. To find the best candidate for this interview, a sampling frame was used. Even with a list of patients receiving cancer-related treatment in the facility to choose from, I preferred a random selection model, hoping to enhance the interview’s participation and accuracy.
Ultimately, an actively practising medical professional who was receiving cancer-related treatment at the facility was selected to be the subject of the interview. An in-depth interview was conducted on the workmate. Before the interview, the respondent was presented with a written consent letter seeking his participation in the study, which he willingly signed. This was to show that his consent was sought and he was not forced to take part in the study.
An in-depth interview features a technique used mostly when expert opinion is required. It also applies where detailed information from experts is required (Graham et al, 2002). I was very pleased with the subject from a researcher’s perspective. The candidate was an expert in the cancer field, working at the Sydney Cancer Centre for the last five years. He is aware of all the site’s available cancer treatment measures and can answer as a patient as well as a practitioner. Moreover, in-depth interview techniques allow the respondents to be treated with great respect, as they are given the opportunity to answer questions they feel do not infringe on their personal or professional values.
The 30-minutes long, in-depth interview was conducted face-to face at the facility’s recreational centre. This location was chosen following the respondent’s request to be interviewed within the facility. This method was considered the best method for gathering the data since the study topic (evaluation of the effectiveness of the cancer treatment methods offered by the facility) required detailed information. The data was recorded down by the researcher for later analysis and report writing. A theme list was used to guide the researcher regarding the themes that should be featured. This assisted in the organisation of the questions as well as the report.
According to Alvesson and Skoldberg (2000), interviewing involves several steps. Each step is important in the ultimate interview process in order to make a complete and informative interview. The interviewer first has to understand the goal of the study. It is important to take care in defining the goals or the purpose of a survey aid in order to make the interview process meaningful and objective.
Goals of study help in deciding which questions to ask the respondent in order to amass the most information on the topic. For a good interview, a theme list has to be prepared to help the researcher in interviewing. With the theme list, the researcher can successfully and competently cover all areas of the study. It also supports collection of quality data. It is also important that the theme list be piloted to test its capability for answering questions on the topic (Graham et al, 2002).
The last step in the interviewing process is conducting the interview itself. This is vital, as it involves the actual collection of data which will later be analysed to complete a research report (Alvesson & Skoldberg, 2000). The main aim in interviewing is to gather relevant information required for the study. A researcher has to make sure that the respondent is under no undue stress during the interview and must try to keep the environment comfortable. Any unclear statements or unique responses by the respondents should be probed in order to get additional insight. As a researcher, the experience was a good one and allowed me the opportunity to collect, analyse, interpret and report primary evidence collected from an experienced professional.
Thematic Analysis of Interview Transcript
In order to analyse the data collected from the respondent, content analysis was used. I first re-read the interview in order to get to know the data. According to Graham et al (2002), getting to know the data before analysis allows for proper analysis. Secondly, I gave each question an identification number. Graham et al (2002) argues that serialising questions eases sorting and improved quality data checks. The analysis was done in accordance with the theme list.
One of the major themes analysed in this study was the effectiveness of cancer treatment measures at the Sydney Cancer Centre. This was measured through the average level of education held by the doctors and nurses, their years of experience and, most importantly, the nature of the treatment measures offered to patients.
The interview also sought to find out the average number of patients treated in a single day at the facility. The number of patients per day averaged 100 to 150 for both outpatient and inpatient treatments. This is a high number by local and international standards when it comes to a specialist facility treating one of the most dreaded and mysterious of diseases. On the other hand, the average number of surgeons and nurses in the facility at any given time is approximately 55. Therefore, a surgeon or a nurse attends to about 2 to 3 patients on any single day. From this information, it can be deduced that the patients waiting time is minimal.
Consider the following question. Can you please name and explain all the treatment measures offered by the facility?
Answers
- Colon Imaging, Endoscopic Visualization, and Biopsy
- Pathologic Staging
- Polypectomy for Malignant Polyps
- Surgical Therapy
- Adjuvant Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Colonoscopic Surveillance
- Pathology and Chemotherapy
Code List for Question 3ю
Key:
1 = Measure is available
0 = Measure is not available
Using the data summarised above, it is arguable that the Sydney Cancer Centre has almost all the necessary treatment measures for the various types of cancer. From the respondent’s answers, each treatment measure was put into a category. The researcher used prior knowledge acquired through secondary research to categorise the treatment measures and their respective effectiveness. The responses given were entered in view of what other leading cancer treatment facilities offer. It was therefore deduced that cancer treatment in Sydney offers some of the latest and most professional and effective methods available.
Role of a Researcher on an Interviewee and the Data Collected
A researcher plays an important role during an interview. It is the role of the researcher to familiarise themselves with background information on the respondent to understand the respondent’s lifestyle and demographic information. For example, using the theme list the researcher prepared above, the researcher guided the interview process.
The researcher is responsible for introducing questions of the study and should state clearly why he/she is conducting the interview. The researcher also plays the role of interviewing the respondent and decides on the best method for asking the questions. Poorly framed questions would not get the right response or may irritate the respondent (Alvesson, 2002). Therefore, during an interview, the researcher has to ensure that the questions are simple, specific, within the study topic and capable of being answered. In a nutshell, the researcher guides the interview process and ensures they get the required information, using the proper technique. It is also the work of researcher to ensure each question is answered appropriately, and, if not, they must seek more information with regard to the initial question (Graham et al, 2002).
Quality data is complete, accurate, consistent and up-to-date (Stewart, 1995). Using the theme list, the researcher should compare what has been written down or recorded with theme list to ensure complete data. The researcher also should ensure the accurate information is collected according to the respondent. Data should not be manipulated.
For instance, the research I undertook required detailed information on the competency of health specialists and the cancer treatment measures of the Sydney Cancer Centre. It was upon me as the researcher to ensure the information recorded is up-to-date and that the respondent would not give outdated data. To this effect, I allowed the respondent to use records to answer certain questions. I was keen on taking the date the records were made to ensure current information.
Due to the busy schedule of the respondent (an actively practising medical professional and a cancer-treatment patient), I consulted with him before fixing a date and the venue for the interview. The interview process required a proper understanding of the theme list to ensure the questions are appropriately answered. The task required impressive listening skills and a quality interpretation of responses, to put them down in the most accurate manner.
A Reflection on Analysis Approach and the Steps Involved
Use of an in-depth interview to collect data in public health is widely preferred because detailed information can be collected. Health information is mostly collected from experts. Different approaches are used to analyse data from in-depth interviews. The data is mainly qualitative (Reinharz & Davidman, 1992). In this study, I mainly used content analysis, which allows the researcher to analyse information in the interview transcript by way of drawing from the major themes and points.
In the analysis, I re-read the data in the transcripts to get and know the data. Then it was possible and easy to identify the themes in the data. I identified unique responses those that appeared in almost all transcripts in the first part of analysing the data. This first process was involving and time consuming, but important. I discovered repeating information as well as responses that never matched the question. This enabled a deeper understanding of the major themes in the data.
The next step of data analysis allowed me to rate the effectiveness of the cancer treatment measures employed by the facility. I first serialised the questions, giving them an identification number. According to Graham et al (2002), identification numbers enable easy tracking of the questions in case the data needs to be pre-checked.
The coding of the data was easy in this case. For instance, the question on the effective of treatment measures was coded according to the treatment measures mentioned. Each treatment measure was assigned a numeric value for easy interpretation. Through coding the data, it was possible to know which treatment measure has the most or least impact. Analysing other major themes was performed similarly. Data transformation allowed for the measuring of the effectiveness of cancer treatment procedures and the competency of facility members and specialists.
In analysing the data, I had to ensure the data collected was of high quality in terms of accuracy, completeness and timeliness. This is because Graham et al (2002) argue data quality is an important step in data analysis. Inappropriate conclusions can be made from analysing data that is not of the required quality. Next, I was required to choose the most appropriate method of analysing data. I had to re-read the data and code, analyse and compile it. I had to interpret the results and write a report.
Conclusion
The authenticity of a report written from a study conducted depends on the quality of data collected by the researcher, in this case, by me. The study culminating in this report utilised in-depth interviews as its major primary data collection method. In-depth interviews are a method of data collection used mostly in qualitative research, which was important in this instance. The method is known for giving detailed information on the area of study.
As a result, it is widely applied in the study of public health and the research of the field. Graham et al (2002) argues that qualitative data is analysed using a range of approaches. They depend on the method that had been used in the collection of the data. However, data gathered through in-depth interviews is better analysed using content analysis, a data analysis method that allows the data analysts to re-read the data collected. This re-reading is important in that it aids in the understanding the themes highlighted in the responses.
Data coding and identifying the responses that are recurring in the data eases data analysis in qualitative research and it is a crucial process as well. As highlighted in the report, the process of data collection through interviewing requires the interviewee to pay attention to the respondent. It is also important to use that information and choose the best method of recording the data. The interviewee should have a theme list to guide the researcher throughout the interview. It is the role of the researcher to make sure the respondent is not under tension when responding to questions. The researcher should also probe for more information from the respondent.
Lastly, a data analyst has a major role of translating data into information, from which relevant conclusions can be drawn. The research task has enabled me to gain experience in the practical field of qualitative research. Specifically, I was able to put into practice the skills I have acquired in school as an interviewer and as a data analyst. I appreciated that the task helped me improve my interviewing skills as well as my analysis of qualitative data.
References
Alvesson, M. & Skoldberg, K. (2000). Reflexive methodology: new vistas for qualitative research. London: Sage.
Alvesson, M. (2002). Postmodernism and social research. Philadelphia, PA: Open University Press.
Graham, C., May, CR & Perry, MS. (2002). Qualitative research and the problem of judgment: lessons from interviewing fellow professionals, 19(3): 285.
Reinharz, S. & Davidman, L. (1992). Feminist methods in social research. New York: Oxford University Press.
Stewart, M. (1995). Patient-centred medicine: transforming the clinical method. Thousand Oaks: Sage publications.
The Sydney Cancer Centre (2012). About us. Web.