Mixed-methods research in pharmacy practice: basics and beyond (part 1). 
This is the first of two papers which explore the use of mixed-methods research in pharmacy practice.  In an era of evidence-based medicine and policy, high-quality research evidence is essential for the development of effective pharmacist-led services.  Over the past decade, the use of mixed-methods research has become increasingly common in healthcare, although to date its use has been relatively limited in pharmacy practice research.  In this article, the basic concepts of mixed-methods research including its definition, typologies and advantages in relation to pharmacy practice research are discussed.  Mixed-methods research brings together qualitative and quantitative methodologies within a single study to answer or understand a research problem.  There are a number of mixed-methods designs available, but the selection of an appropriate design must always be dictated by the research question.  Importantly, mixed-methods research should not be seen as a 'tool' to collect qualitative and quantitative data, rather there should be some degree of 'integration' between the two data sets.  If conducted appropriately, mixed-methods research has the potential to generate quality research evidence by combining strengths and overcoming the respective limitations of qualitative and quantitative methodologies.