{
  "abstract": "Health research aims to improve people’s health by understanding the best ways to diagnose and treat conditions, and understand people’s responses to health problems and health promotion initiatives. Quantitative research, and more specifically randomised controlled trials (RCTs), aims to establish if an intervention works, for example testing the effectiveness of a new drug, using statistical analysis. In contrast, qualitative research focuses on understanding a situation, for example people’s experiences, perspectives and behaviours. Qualitative research can enhance RCTs by ensuring a more complete understanding of the factors that influence the acceptability of a new intervention and how it might be implemented in practice. A previous article in this series outlined how process evaluation embedded within RCTs can help understand how and why an intervention works.1 While process evaluation is important, we will outline the reasons qualitative research can enhance the design and procedures associated with RCTs, and the interpretation of findings. We will outline the key features of RCTs and the underpinning principles of qualitative research before offering strategies that could be incorporated into RCTs to maximise the potential benefits to children and young people (CYP) and their families.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jill Thompson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Nursing & Midwifery, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK",
        "Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Joanna Smith"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jayne Evans"
    }
  ],
  "title": "How can qualitative research enhance and strengthen randomised controlled trials undertaken with children and young people?",
  "uid": "dd79d878-6e58-5211-93eb-eb396706ab05"
}