ABSTRACT
This chapter describes an ESRC-funded research project which is examining the current and potential uses of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) within the UK National Health Service (NHS). We contend that previous questionnaire-based studies in this area have provided partial understandings of this issue but have not, to date, fully teased out the underlying factors which facilitate and/or constrain GIS uptake and use within primary and secondary care. In this paper, we outline the research design that is being used to address this caveat which, in turn, serves to illustrate Gatrell’s (2001) call for the adoption of mixedmethod research frameworks within health-based research.
