CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
This study was conducted using questionnaire based, cross sectional analysis. Questionnaire used were based on the translated survey questions obtained from a similar study performed in Japan in 1999 and Penang General Hospital in 2014 (Hyodo, 1999; Maryam Farooqui, 2014).
Study method & Design
The study population include cancer patients in Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah, Kuala Terengganu who underwent chemotherapy treatment in the hospital and also patients who are undergoing chemotherapy treatment in the hospital (subject to the previously mentioned limitations and the Inclusion & exclusion criteria below). Data collection was performed in medical wards, gynaecology wards, surgery wards,…show more content… Data collection process
All patients admitted to the wards and daycare units (subject to the limitations and exclusions above) were screened for cancer diagnosis daily from the admission directory from the hospital’s Hospital Information System (HIS). All patients were asked the preliminary question before continuing the interview. The patient’s family members were (with patient’s consent) usually encouraged to join the study to assist patient in recalling their choice of CAM.
Patients with clinic appointments were usually collected on the day of appointments, which were as follows:
• Surgical Department: Sundays and Tuesdays
• Gynaecology Department: Wednesdays
• Medical (HematologyHaematology): Once a month, when informed.
Due to an overwhelming response and the limitations of time, the researcher was invited to join a cancer survivor chat group among cancer patients in the hospital via the Whatsapp application, which allowed the researcher to be able to contact more patients and collect data after office hours and after doctor’s appointments. During data collection in group chat rooms, group members were asked the preliminary question, and the survey was continued either by private messages, telephone conversations or meet…show more content… For descriptive information, data is presented in percentage (%), while for statistical correlation results, a simple or Pearson Chi-square test was used to associate the independent study variables and CAM utilization. For results standardization, during all statistical analysis, p < 0.05 is considered as significant.
Ethical Approval
The study is registered to the National Medical Research Registry (NMRR) for approval from the Clinical Research Centre (CRC) Ministry of Health Malaysia. Other permission obtained prior to data collection approval from the Research Ethics Committee (REC) of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and also the hospital director. The questionnaire was reviewed and validated by a clinical pharmacist, a practising lecturer in UNiSZA and also by supervisors prior to data collection. All other aspects to protect patients’ confidentiality were taken into consideration and patients were invited to join the survey voluntarily.
Questionnaire