This paper discusses the challenges encountered by researchers while conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) testing\nthe efficacy of a healthy lifestyle educational and exercise intervention for people with serious mental illness. RCTs, even though\nconsidered the ââ?¬Å?gold standardââ?¬Â of research designs, are still prone to risks of potential bias and threats to their validity. Based on\nresearcher reflexivity, the combination of reflection and action, during the conduct of the study, this paper outlines a number of\nchallenges faced by the researchers. These included managing the need of participants to tell their story and be heard, reluctance of\nparticipants to remain in allocated groups, participant literacy, dual role of the nurse nurse-researcher, and reporting the benefits of\nnonstatistical results of a quantitative research project. Recommendations for conducting future behaviour intervention studies of\nthis type include the incorporation of a reflexive component for the nurse nurse-researcher, highlighting the importance of taking\na reflexive stance in both qualitative and quantitative research designs.
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