Conclusion
The development and evaluation of complex interventions in palliative care benefit from the application of mixed methodology within the MRC framework As demonstrated in the examples given, mixed methods
provide evidence from a variety of sources, enabling better understanding of whether and how an intervention
works (or does not work) and inform the design of subsequent studies. However, mixing methods should
not be seen as a panacea;38 mixed methods are not always appropriate. They can be costly and bring with
them their own unique challenges in relation to data collection, integration in analysis and dissemination. Mixed
method studies in palliative care will benefit from working with agreed protocols, multidisciplinary teams and engaging experienced staff with appropriate skill sets.