This post explains a 2026 qualitative research protocol about large language model (LLM) adoption in primary care and what it means for qualitative researchers using AI tools. The primary keyword is qualitative analysis LLM adoption. According to PLOS ONE (Pokharel et al., 2026), the study is a descriptive qualitative protocol that will interview family physicians in British Columbia to explore perceptions that shape LLM uptake. The payoff for qualitative researchers and UX teams is concrete: the protocol spells out sampling bands, deductive+inductive thematic coding, and a six-month recruitment timeline, all of which map directly onto AI-enabled workflows for faster transcription, coding, and cross-segment analysis.
Key Takeaways
According to PLOS ONE (Pokharel et al., 2026), this paper is a qualitative study protocol that will use semi-structured interviews and the Technology Adoption Behavior (TAB) framework to examine family physicians' views on LLMs in clinical care.
- The protocol was published on August 7, 2026 and lists receipt and acceptance dates as July 18, 2025 and July 22, 2026 respectively, per PLOS ONE.
- The authors report that the number of Canadians without a family doctor rose from 4.5 million in 2019 to about 6.5 million in 2023, a context the study uses to justify focusing on primary care, per PLOS ONE.
- The study plans purposive sampling with LLM-usage bands of 50+, 5–50, and <5 lifetime uses in clinical contexts and anticipates six months of recruitment from August 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026, according to PLOS ONE.
- "The study may provide timely input into relevant policies, practices, and behaviors, " write Pokharel et al. (2026) in PLOS ONE.
What Happened: the PLOS ONE protocol in plain terms
Answer: PLOS ONE (Pokharel et al., 2026) published a qualitative research protocol to study how family physicians in British Columbia perceive LLM adoption and to use those insights to inform policy and practice.
According to PLOS ONE, the research uses a descriptive qualitative design with semi-structured interviews, purposive sampling, and a combined deductive and inductive thematic analysis guided by the Technology Adoption Behavior (TAB) framework.
According to PLOS ONE, the research team will record interviews, transcribe and deidentify them, apply a TAB-based deductive codebook, then refine codes inductively using NVivo, with reflexive memos and monthly team reviews to finalize themes.
Findings Snapshot
| Date | Metric | Value | Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 7, 2026 | Publication date | Protocol published | Provides an explicit roadmap for interviewing primary care physicians about LLMs |
| 2019 vs 2023 | Patients without a family doctor | 4.5 million → 6.5 million | Motivates focus on primary care where LLMs could affect access and workflows |
| Aug 1, 2025 to Jan 31, 2026 | Planned recruitment window | 6 months | Gives an analytical timeline for scheduling interviews and batch transcription |
| Usage bands | LLM experience categories | 50+, 5–50, <5 lifetime clinical uses | Enables cross-segment comparisons by experience level |
Implications for qualitative researchers and clinicians
Answer: The PLOS ONE protocol shows that disciplined, theory-informed qualitative design is essential when studying LLM adoption in clinical settings.
According to PLOS ONE, the TAB framework integrates perceptions (perceived ease of use and usefulness) with task-technology fit, which directs researchers to sample across task complexity and clinician experience to reveal adoption drivers.
According to PLOS ONE, purposive sampling by LLM usage bands and ensuring variability in years of practice will make themes actionable for policymakers and clinical leaders seeking guidance on governance, training, and workflow integration.
How Evidano helps convert this protocol into rapid, trustworthy insights
Evidano definition
Evidano is an AI-powered qualitative data analysis platform that helps researchers analyze interviews, open-ended surveys, and documents.
Problem: The protocol plans reflexive memos, NVivo coding, and monthly codebook reviews, which are time-consuming when done manually, per PLOS ONE.
Solution: Evidano accelerates transcription, deidentification, and thematic coding at scale while preserving qualitative rigor through human-in-the-loop review and exportable codebooks, which helps teams meet timelines like the six-month recruitment and analysis window described in PLOS ONE.
Problem: The protocol requires cross-segment analysis by LLM-usage bands and years of practice, per PLOS ONE.
Solution: Evidano provides cross-segment thematic frequency tables, co-occurrence networks, and hierarchical code→subcode visualizations to compare themes across the 50+, 5–50, and <5 usage groups quickly.
Contextual link: Learn about relevant platform capabilities on the Evidano features page.
FAQ: qualitative analysis LLM adoption
What research design does the PLOS ONE protocol use and why?
Answer: The protocol uses a descriptive qualitative design with semi-structured interviews to capture physicians' everyday language and meanings, according to PLOS ONE.
Supporting detail: The authors chose this design to provide a "summary of events in the everyday terms of those events, " citing qualitative description principles in PLOS ONE.
How will participants be sampled and grouped?
Answer: The study will purposively sample practicing family physicians in British Columbia and group them by LLM usage into 50+, 5–50, and <5 lifetime clinical uses, per PLOS ONE.
Supporting detail: The protocol aims for 'sufficiency' rather than statistical power and will ensure variability in years of practice, according to PLOS ONE.
What analysis method will the researchers use?
Answer: The team will apply thematic analysis using both deductive codes from the TAB framework and inductive codes that emerge from the data, according to PLOS ONE.
Supporting detail: The protocol explains monthly codebook reviews, reflexive memos, and team discussions to ensure nuanced interpretation, and states they will use NVivo for coding, per PLOS ONE.
Can AI tools be used without compromising qualitative rigor?
Answer: Yes, when AI tools are used with human oversight and transparent documentation, as implied by the protocol attention to reflexivity and team review in PLOS ONE.
Supporting detail: The protocol emphasizes reflexive memos and monthly team validation, which are compatible with AI-assisted transcription and preliminary coding followed by human review, per PLOS ONE.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Answer: The PLOS ONE protocol (Pokharel et al., 2026) provides a replicable, theory-informed blueprint for studying LLM adoption in primary care and highlights concrete sampling and analysis choices that qualitative teams can operationalize with AI support.
According to PLOS ONE, the TAB framework and mixed deductive-inductive coding will guide analyses that are policy-relevant, and the authors plan dissemination to physician groups and policymakers.
If you are running interviews like those in the protocol, Evidano can speed transcription, deidentification, and theme extraction while preserving reflexive, human-led interpretation; learn platform details on the Evidano features page.
Next steps: map your interview guide to TAB constructs, batch audio for encrypted transcription, and generate preliminary code frequency tables to inform reflexive team sessions.
Ready to operationalize a protocol like the PLOS ONE study? Try Evidano for free.
Topics
- qualitative analysis LLM adoption
- physician perceptions of LLMs
- LLM adoption primary care
- thematic analysis LLM healthcare
Keep reading
- Commentary on NewsPhysician Perceptions of LLMs: Adoption in Primary CarePractical explainer of physician perceptions of LLMs from a PLOS One protocol (7 Aug 2026). Learn methods, timelines, and how AI-enabled qualitative research accelerates insight.
- Commentary on NewsStudy Protocol: Physician Perceptions of LLMsReview of a PLOS One protocol on primary care physician perceptions of LLMs, with dates, sample metrics, and AI-enabled qualitative research guidance.
- Commentary on NewsAI-enabled Qualitative Analysis: LLM Adoption in Primary CarePractical guide to qualitative analysis of LLM adoption in primary care using the PLOS ONE protocol (Aug 7, 2026). Methods, numbers, and AI-enabled research tools explained.