The Case Study Research Method : Overview and Proposed Guidelines for Reporting and Evaluation Illustrated With Health Informatics Case Studies

Case study research is a rigorous method of scientific enquiry. Its rediscovery for health services research is related to recognition of the dynamic and complex natures of health services interventions and settings. Complex interventions, comprised of several interacting components, are becoming a focus in health services research. Most or all health informatics interventions could be considered to be complex interventions. Case study research addresses questions of “how” and “why” and can be conducted for exploratory, descriptive or explanatory purposes using various philosophical lenses. The use of the method requires thoughtful consideration for case selection, data sources and collection, analysis, and quality. Proposed Guidelines for the Reporting and Evaluation of Case Study Research were developed based on a review of the case research literature and the development of this paper to assist in achieving high quality studies, consistent reporting, and appropriate and optimal use of the method. Use of the Proposed Guidelines was illustrated using four studies pertaining to primary health care informatics, with variable findings.