Data saturation and information power: sample size in qualitative research—when is enough and how to assess?

Qualitative inquiry plays an essential role in optimising cardiovascular care and facilitating person-centred approaches through understanding in-depth experiences that quantitative data are unable to capture. In quantitative research, rigorous power calculations are used to determine minimum sample size required to support a finding. In qualitative research, power calculations do not apply, but rather, determination of adequate sample size relies on the concept of data saturation. Operational definitions of data saturation simplify its definition to 'no new information emerging', which can be problematic, particularly if researchers do not provide adequate methodological support to ensure transparency.…