Reflexivity in Data Collection: Psychology Students’ Interpretations of Osteoporosis Patient Experiences – A Qualitative Case Study

Objective: In many studies, data collectors' views and observations regarding both the data collection process and patients are often insufficiently represented or integrated into the research framework. This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of psychology students' perceptions of patients, particularly in the context of their participation in the data collection process for a research project. A qualitative content analysis design was used. Data were collected through face-to-face and telephone interviews with 20 participants. The interview protocol was developed based on expert consultation to ensure content validity, and qualitative data were analyzed using MAXQDA 2022 to identify key themes and patterns. Results: The analysis revealed three main themes: illness perception, social support, and barriers to treatment. Patients were aware of their illness and treatment processes and expressed the need for emotional, psychological, instrumental, informational, and companionship support. While they generally reported satisfaction with healthcare providers and institutions, they also faced barriers such as limited access to healthcare, physical and environmental constraints, economic difficulties, and psychosocial challenges. The study showed that qualitative insights from interviews with those interacting with patients aligned with findings from quantitative research, emphasizing the value of integrating diverse methods to capture the complexity of patient experiences.