OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to develop a checklist for authors preparing qualitative nursing research manuscripts, specifically focusing on the method section.
DESIGN: Literature review.
DATA SOURCES: 15 articles were purposefully selected from three different nursing journals.
REVIEW METHODS: Evans' four step process was used to synthesize the method sections of the included articles.
RESULTS: Four main categories were identified 1) Ingress and Methodology, 2) Participants, 3) Approval, and 4) Data: Collection and Management. Based on the categories and sub-categories, a 22-item checklist was developed.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Earlier guidelines for formal reporting were developed for qualitative research in general. The main advantage and contribution of IMPAD is that it provides a 22-item checklist specifically aimed towards the method section, and furthermore, it was developed specifically for authors within the field of nursing research.