Undiagnosed hearing loss among older adults is common and often goes unreported. The SOUND‑BITES pilot (published 14 July 2026) embeds hearing checks into Meals on Wheels visits and will generate audio interviews, TDF-coded transcripts and mixed-methods data, a rich but time-consuming corpus for researchers. In this post you will learn how to run an AI-enabled qualitative analysis of pilot interviews to: (1) rapid-code to the Theoretical Domains Framework, (2) spot cross-segment patterns (clients vs volunteers, Pass vs Refer), and (3) produce visual deliverables for stakeholders, all while preserving data security. See the original protocol at PLoS One and learn how to operationalize these steps in Evidano.
Key Takeaways
Evidano is an AI-powered qualitative data analysis platform that ingests audio interviews, automates intelligent verbatim transcription, and supports TDF-driven coding and cross-segment analysis. This post shows how to map the SOUND‑BITES protocol into an Evidano workflow to produce TDF-coded themes, cross-segment comparisons, and stakeholder-ready visuals within a two-week pilot workflow. The SOUND‑BITES corpus includes up to 600 client/household participants, optional audio interviews, and volunteer interviews, with recruitment starting 01/03/2026 and expected data completion 30/04/2027.
- SOUND‑BITES primary outputs relevant to qualitative analysis: up to 600 client/household participants, optional 1:1 audio interviews, and volunteer interviews at program end.
- Saturation expectation and sample planning: the protocol estimates saturation at approximately 9–17 interviews, useful when planning a 20-interview pilot tranche.
- Two-week Evidano workflow: bulk upload, auto-transcribe, import the TDF codebook, run AI-assisted pre-coding, reconcile with human coders, and produce visuals and exportable deliverables.
Fast take: What SOUND‑BITES means for qualitative teams
The SOUND‑BITES protocol pilots hearing checks via Meals on Wheels NSW, combining surveys, clinical outputs and optional audio interviews to assess acceptability and feasibility. The protocol (Tang et al., published 14 July 2026) uses Sound Scouts tablet audiometry and Arclight otoscopy alongside optional audio interviews for clients and volunteers to collect implementation feedback.
- Primary outputs relevant to qualitative analysis: up to 600 client/household participants, optional audio interviews (4-weeks post-program) and volunteer interviews at program end.
- Qualitative plan: interview audio, intelligent verbatim transcription, manual checking, and deductive coding into the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) using NVivo.
- Key dates provided in the protocol: recruitment started 01/03/2026; recruitment expected complete by 12/10/2026; full data collection expected by 30/04/2027; preliminary results expected 01/09/2027.
Findings snapshot
| Date / Metric | Value | Source / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol published | 14 July 2026 | PLoS One |
| Target sample (clients + household) | 600 | Pilot across 8 Meals on Wheels NSW sites |
| Volunteer target | 60 | Each volunteer supports ~10 participants |
| Recruitment start | 01/03/2026 | Study timeline in protocol |
| Expected data completion | 30/04/2027 | Protocol timeline |
| Primary qualitative endpoint | Acceptability & feasibility (TDF-coded insights) | Optional interviews; saturation estimated 9–17 interviews |
Study methods (plain English)
SOUND‑BITES uses a mixed-methods pilot design combining clinical screening, baseline and 6-month surveys, and optional audio-recorded interviews to collect qualitative feedback. Clinical screening includes Arclight otoscopy and Sound Scouts app audiometry, while interviews target clients/household members approximately four weeks post-check and volunteers at program end.
- Transcription plan: intelligent verbatim transcription (Microsoft Word), followed by manual checking and participant review.
- Coding plan: deductive content analysis mapping responses to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) in NVivo, with a two-coder consensus process and third-coder arbitration.
- Analysis outputs: themes mapped to TDF domains, frequency counts, and triangulation with survey and clinical data (Pass vs Refer, hearing number ranges).
So what for qualitative researchers: AI-enabled qualitative analysis of pilot interviews
What this dataset can answer
This dataset can answer which TDF domains predict acceptance, how help-seeking pathways operate, and where implementation pain points occur. Researchers can link domain-coded interview responses to survey and clinical outputs to model barriers and drivers.
Acceptability drivers: which TDF domains (knowledge, beliefs about capabilities, social influences) predict volunteer and client acceptance.
Help-seeking pathways: cross-reference interview reasons with 6-month help-seeking survey responses to model barriers.
Implementation pain points: operational themes such as training, timing, noise, and device handling that can be prioritized for SOPs.
High-value segment comparisons
Comparative analysis can reveal differences between clients who received a 'Refer' versus 'Pass', between volunteers by tech familiarity, and across the 8 Meals on Wheels sites. These comparisons can inform targeted implementation changes.
Clients who received a 'Refer' vs 'Pass' (Sound Scouts output): compare expressed intentions and perceived barriers.
Volunteer experience by tech familiarity: training feedback and comfort delivering checks.
Site-level variation across the 8 Meals on Wheels locations to flag local process changes.
Caveats & validity checks
Researchers must account for self-selection bias because interviews are optional, and report recruitment and refusal reasons transparently. Researchers should link qualitative notes to audiometric metadata to assess environmental influences on comments and test results.
Interviews are optional, expect self-selection bias; report recruitment and refusal reasons.
Environmental noise in-home testing may influence test results and participant comments, link qualitative notes to audiometric metadata.
Manual transcript checks and participant review (protocol step) are essential before automated coding to preserve rigor.
Do more, faster with Evidano
Ingest & secure
Evidano ingests bulk audio files and REDCap CSVs securely, with encryption and a policy that customer data is not used to train third-party models. Evidano supports auto-redaction of PII during transcription when consent allows.
Bulk import audio files and REDCap CSVs; data is encrypted and Evidano does not use customer data to train third-party models.
Auto-redact PII during transcription if required (consent-dependent).
Transcription & validation
Evidano auto-transcribes using intelligent verbatim and supports custom dictionaries, batch speaker-labeling, and a QC queue that mirrors manual participant transcript review. Evidano enables validation of samples and manual correction before coding.
Auto-transcribe with intelligent verbatim, using a custom dictionary (e.g., 'Arclight', 'Sound Scouts', site names).
Batch speaker-labeling and a QC queue for manual checks that mirror the study’s protocol step of participant transcript review.
Codebook-driven and AI-assisted coding
Evidano imports the TDF codebook and pre-codes transcripts using model-tuned patterns while tracking inter-coder agreement and flagging low-confidence passages for human arbitration. Human coders reconcile codes with Evidano recording consensus and disagreements.
Import the TDF codebook (deductive codes) and let Evidano pre-code transcripts using model-tuned patterns.
Human coders review and reconcile: Evidano tracks inter-coder agreement and flags low-confidence passages for arbitration.
Thematic, frequency & cross-segment analysis
Evidano generates theme frequency tables, co-occurrence networks, and hierarchical code-to-subcode trees and can run automated cross-segment comparisons such as Pass versus Refer. Evidano provides quantitative-style summaries suitable for mixed-methods reporting.
Generate theme frequency tables, co-occurrence networks, and hierarchical code→subcode trees.
Run cross-segment comparisons automatically (e.g., Pass vs Refer, volunteer tech-experience strata) and get effect-size style summaries for mixed-methods reports.
Visuals & outputs for stakeholders
Evidano produces dashboards, exportable tables, and slide-ready visuals, and it exports cleaned transcripts, annotated quotes, and a reproducible audit trail for ethics and peer review. These outputs support conference abstracts and community reports.
One-click dashboards: word clouds, co-occurrence maps, and exportable tables for conference abstracts or community reports.
Export cleaned transcripts, annotated quotes, and a reproducible audit trail for ethics/peer-review.
Two-week pilot workflow (what to run in Evidano)
A two-week workflow in Evidano converts the first 20 SOUND‑BITES interviews into stakeholder-ready insights by following a day-by-day plan. The workflow mirrors the protocol's manual checks and leverages Evidano's AI-assisted pre-coding to accelerate human reconciliation.
- Day 0: Bulk upload audio and REDCap survey CSV to Evidano; attach study metadata (site, Pass/Refer, age band).
- Day 1–2: Auto-transcribe with custom dictionary; run PII redaction if needed; validate a 10% sample.
- Day 3–4: Import TDF codebook; run AI-assisted pre-coding and generate candidate themes.
- Day 5–8: Human coders reconcile codes; Evidano reports inter-coder agreement and low-confidence segments.
- Day 9–10: Run cross-segment frequency analysis and co-occurrence networks (e.g., training comments × comfort).
- Day 11–12: Produce slide-ready visuals and a 2-page executive brief; export quotes for community dissemination.
- Day 13–14: Share results with stakeholders and iterate on codebook if new themes emerge.
FAQ: SOUND‑BITES pilot qualitative analysis
Can Evidano import an existing NVivo or TDF codebook?
Yes. Evidano accepts standard codebook formats and maps imported codes to hierarchical analytics for frequency and co-occurrence reporting. Evidano supports CSV and JSON imports and will align imported codes with its analytics structure.
Yes. Evidano accepts standard codebook formats (CSV/JSON) and maps imported codes to its hierarchical analytics for frequency and co‑occurrence reporting.
How does Evidano detect saturation with AI?
Evidano tracks new-theme velocity across ordered interviews and flags when the new-theme rate drops below a configurable threshold, providing an indicator to combine with human judgment. The protocol cites saturation at approximately 9–17 interviews as a reference point.
Evidano tracks new-theme velocity across ordered interviews and flags when new-theme rate drops below a configurable threshold, a useful indicator alongside human judgment (the protocol cites saturation ≈9–17 interviews).
Are sensitive health interviews secure on Evidano?
Yes. Evidano encrypts data in transit and at rest, supports role-based access controls, and does not use customer data to train public models, making it suitable for research under ethics approvals. Evidano's security features align with HREC requirements referenced in the protocol.
Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, role-based access controls are supported, and Evidano does not use your data to train public models, suitable for research under ethics approvals like Macquarie University HREC ID: 16818.
Wrapping up & next steps
SOUND‑BITES will produce a mixed-methods corpus suited for implementation and policy insights, and the protocol steps can be mapped into an Evidano workflow to move from raw audio to TDF-coded themes and cross-segment evidence quickly and securely. Teams should start with a small tranche to validate codebooks and workflows before scaling to the full corpus.
- Start by exporting a 20-interview pilot tranche from NVivo or Word and run the two-week workflow above.
- Evidano can automate transcription, apply your TDF codebook, surface high-confidence themes, and deliver visuals for stakeholders while preserving a full audit trail.
Ready to try this on your SOUND‑BITES corpus? Try Evidano for free to see how Evidano turns pilot interviews into actionable insights.
