Table 1.

Example studies that use observation.

Research Topic	Study Design	Use of Observation
Organization, structure and process of HIV care.	Mixed Methods (survey, interviews and observation)	Site visits with observations of clinical encounters and staff work routines [1,16]
Identification of contextual factors influential in the uptake and spread of an anticoagulation improvement initiative.	Mixed Methods (survey, interviews, observation, and Interrupted time series)	Observations of clinical processes and clinical encounters with patients and of site champion quality improvement team meetings [4]
Examination of how physicians respond verbally and nonverbally to patient pain cues.	Observation of clinical interactions	Observations of clinical encounters [17,18]
Determination of proportion of tasks that are commonly carried out by clinical pharmacists can be appropriately managed by clinical pharmacy technicians.	Mixed Methods (modified Delphi process and observation)	Observation of pharmacists carrying out work tasks in a time-motion study [19]