Table 2.

Types of mixed methods studies and examples in AS research

Core mixed methods design	Description	Example in AS research
Convergent design or concurrent design	Concurrent or parallel collection of qualitative and quantitative data with mixing of results after analysis but during interpretation of the findings	Quantitative survey data and qualitative interview data were collected and triangulated to evaluate the implementation of AS programmes in Missouri hospitals.115
Explanatory sequential design	Initial collection and analysis of quantitative data that informs the subsequent collection, analysis and interpretation of qualitative data	A cluster-randomized control trial was conducted to quantitatively assess the effect of an outpatient AS intervention on broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing by primary care paediatricians,116 which was followed by a qualitative interview study to explore the perceptions of participating paediatricians regarding the outpatient AS intervention.43
Exploratory sequential design	Initial collection, analysis and interpretation of qualitative data that is used to inform the collection of quantitative data	Qualitative data on factors influencing antibiotic prescribing were collected by semi-structured interviews, which informed the design of instruments used in a discrete choice experiment to quantify factors influencing antibiotic prescribing.117