Miguel, Susana Sofia Abreu, Silvia Caldeira, & Margarida Viera (2016, November). The adequacy of the Q methodology for clinical validation of nursing diagnoses related to subjective foci. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge. (doi: 10.1111/2047-3095.12163) ePublication prior to print.

Abstract: Objective: This article describes the adequacy of the Q methodology as a new option for the validation of nursing diagnoses related to subjective foci. Methods: Discussion paper about the characteristics of the Q methodology. Findings: This method has been used in nursing research particularly related to subjective concepts and includes both a quantitative and qualitative dimension. Conclusions: The Q methodology seems to be an adequate and innovative method for the clinical validation of nursing diagnoses. Implications for practice: The validation of nursing diagnoses related to subjective foci using the Q methodology could improve the level of evidence and provide nurses with clinical indicators for clinical reasoning and for the planning of effective interventions.

Silvia Caldeira <scaldeira@ics.lisboa.ucp.pt> is at the School of Nursing and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal.