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PubMed2005

Maintaining your focus in focus groups: avoiding common mistakes.

Focus groups are used frequently in nursing research as a method for collecting qualitative data. However, due to inadequate planning or execution, the results can be of poor quality or even worthless. A well-defined purpose, carefully planned environment, and well trained personnel are discussed as the cornerstones to focus group success. This article sets the stage with a description of a well conducted focus group, then provides examples and a critique of less-than-effective groups. Focus groups can be powerful and effective when their use is appropriate to the study purpose, the environment is non-judgmental and welcoming, and the personnel are skilled.

Education↗

PubMed2001

Focus groups--what are they?

The use of focus groups has become common in many spheres of research, including dental research. This article provides an update on the history of focus groups, defines focus groups in the context of academic research and highlights their possible uses. Practical advice is provided on the conduct of focus groups and ethical considerations are discussed.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed2004

[Using focus groups among the elderly].

Focus groups are important tools for assessing markets, making public policy and researching applied science. The use of focus groups can enable us to gather large volumes of data in short periods of time. The need for focus groups, because of the economical and efficient way in which they generate information, has grown recently in nursing. Focus groups can be used among different groups within a population, including teenagers, healthy adults, elderly people, patients and nurses. The manner in which they are used, however, must be adjusted to take account of the characteristics of each group. This article discusses the preparation, implementation, analysis and reporting of the use of focus groups among elderly people. It was important to observe the elderly subjects' physical and psychological states, work and rest habits, and interaction, and carefully arrange the detail of each group in accordance with the findings of such observation. This article is intended to enable the experience of using focus groups among the elderly to be shared with other researchers.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Students' perceptions of whistle blowing: implications for self-regulation. A questionnaire and focus group survey.

AIM: The aims of this study are to gauge and use the views of medical students to elaborate on the concept of whistle blowing and to give an indication of its role in self-regulation. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among medical students from a Scottish medical school. Students were asked (i) whether they should, and (ii) whether they would report to faculty academic misconduct by other students. Comparisons were made between all five year groups. Subsequently students in focus groups were asked to give their reasons for whistle-blowing or not doing so. RESULTS: Of the students, 40% felt they should whistle-blow, with 13% saying they would actually do so. The numbers of students who felt they should or would whistle blow were smaller in the later year groups. Focus groups identified positive and negative reasons for whistle blowing or not, and reasons connected to the process itself. Reasons given for not whistle blowing included camaraderie, retaliation by peers, self-preservation and a belief that it is not a student's responsibility to report the misconduct of others. CONCLUSIONS: The results have two important implications. First, medical schools have to decide whether students have a duty to whistle blow and/or whether there is a need to devise clear procedures. Any procedures should take into account the reasons given for not whistle blowing, but should concentrate on positive motivating factors. Secondly the medical profession needs to consider the role of whistle blowing, as the results suggest that whistle blowing should not be the only method of detection of misconduct in an undergraduate setting.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2000

Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting focus group data.

Conducting a focus group is only one approach to gathering information. The worthiness of the information derived from a focus group depends on many factors. The main advantage of a focus group is that it is a convenient, cost-effective, relatively fast method to collect information from a number of individuals. Useful information only can be obtained with special attention to research methods and assessment of the reliability and validity of collected data. Using a focus group should be considered when the method is appropriate to answer the research question. Remember, adequate resources and skill are required to conduct a focus group in a manner that ensures the quality of the results.

Data Collection↗

PubMed2006

[Qualitative research: an introduction to focus group methodology and its application].

The focus group interview, an increasingly popular method in qualitative research, is used to obtain information that is highly accurate and relevant through a dynamic group interactive technique. Focus groups are used to gather ideas, opinions, perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs based on participants experiences in a defined area of interest. Focus groups can be used during the preliminary or exploratory stage of a study; during the course of a study (e.g., to develop or evaluate a particular / interesting program of activities); or after a program has been completed (e.g., to assess impact or generate further avenues of research). Focus group interviews can be used either as a method in their own right or as a complement to other methods, especially to check triangulation and validity. While our study concluded that focus group interviews are an "easy and cost efficient" method to collect quality data, validity and relationship issues between focus group data and other data must be determined and considered in the results. This article introduces the background, definitions, focus group process, participants, interview guidelines, moderator responsibilities, and data collection and analysis related to the focus group methodology.

Focus Groups↗

PubMed1999

The use of focus groups to define patient needs.

Focus groups are enjoying unprecedented popularity. In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of the method are outlined with cautions against the uncritical adoption of focus groups designed according to the marketing research tradition. It is argued that focus groups require detailed planning, and some advice regarding the running of groups, and analysis of data is provided. Special attention is directed to the practical and ethical issues in using focus groups to define patient needs in the area of childhood inflammatory bowel disease. Finally, some suggestions for maximising the full potential of focus groups are presented. Focus groups, if used appropriately and judiciously, are an inherently flexible method. Ultimately, their use is constrained only by the research question and the imagination of the researcher.

Ethics↗

PubMed1988

The use of focus groups in health research.

Focus groups--informal sessions in which participants are asked to discuss their thoughts on a specific topic or product--are being used with increased frequency in health research. The following paper examines the uses, advantages, and limitations of this qualitative research technique. Also provided is a discussion of the elements comprising a focus group session including the function of the moderator and the role of participants. In addition, guidelines for analyzing focus group data are presented. The paper concludes with a detailed description of the application of focus group research to a health promotion campaign.

Group Processes↗

PubMed1986

Solving problems through staff participation in focus groups.

Use of a survey and employee focus groups to solve problems in a hospital pharmacy department is described. All pharmacy staff members were asked to identify perceived problems; 33% completed the written questionnaire. Managers clarified the survey comments and ranked problems for priority, using nominal group technique. Focus groups were formed to address appropriate problems; for each focus group supervisors selected two pharmacists and two technicians who volunteered or were nominated by peers. A pharmacy resident was the facilitator for each group. Meeting weekly for one hour, each group defined problems, set priorities, gathered ideas, analyzed possible solutions, and proposed a solution to the pharmacy supervisors. One group proposed guidelines for staff scheduling and seven-days-on, seven-days-off rotations for night pharmacists; the other proposed a structure for technician training in the department and a required orientation and training schedule for all employees. This process required more staff time than unilateral management decisions would have, but the solutions were acceptable to all levels of staff members. The focus group process was effective in identifying and solving problems at this hospital. Routine resurveys will be conducted and new focus groups will be formed to address problems that would benefit from analysis and consensus by employees.

Florida↗

PubMed1994

Musculoskeletal injuries in the fire service: views from a focus group study.

1. The focus group is a qualitative data collection method involving carefully planned small group discussions designed to obtain perceptions on a defined area of interest. Focus groups can be used by occupational health nurses for gathering ecologically based, in-depth needs assessment information from workers prior to program planning. 2. Occupational health nurses can be guided in their needs assessments by an ecological framework that considers the person, workplace, and situational factors that contribute to occupational health problems. 3. A focus group study of fire chiefs and firefighters used an ecological framework to elicit participants' perceptions of the factors that contribute to musculoskeletal injury and the preventive strategies that would be acceptable to them. Participants shared their insights, motivations, and feelings about the factors, thus suggesting concepts and hypotheses to be explored further. 4. The occupational health nurse needs to consider the differing meanings that management and workers attach to an occupational health problem.

Fires↗

PubMed1990

Assessing beliefs of older rural Americans about nutrition education: use of the focus group approach.

We used the focus group interview technique as a preliminary research step in developing a nutrition education intervention for rural seniors who, because of less than optimal eating habits and changing demographics, are an important target audience. Sixty-eight well, active, rural North Dakota seniors, 60 years or older, from communities of 2,500 or fewer people, participated in five focus groups conducted in late summer 1988. As a qualitative research approach, focus group interviews offer a means of obtaining in-depth information on a specific topic from representatives of a target audience in a discussion group atmosphere. Focus groups require careful preparation and structuring and should include a capable moderator, a prepared discussion guide, carefully recruited participants, and a comfortable setting. The process generated ideas that we are using to develop a health promotion nutrition intervention that will be a mailed-home approach, including use of incentives, social role models, cholesterol screening, and learning activities. The intervention relies on the interest and ability of seniors to make positive health changes. We conclude that the focus group approach is useful in developing nutrition education interventions.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Using focus groups for continuing veterinary medical education needs assessment and program planning.

Needs assessments are essential to educational program development. Methods of needs assessment include environmental scans, surveys, and focus groups. Focus groups are valuable and acceptable tools to identify learner needs. The method is a qualitative research technique that is most useful to identify the range of opinions or ideas on a topic. The purposes of this paper are to explore the literature in focus groups for continuing education research, to provide information on the reasons and methods to conduct focus groups, and to present findings of participants' views of the focus group process.

Education, Veterinary↗

PubMed2006

Issues in conducting cross-cultural research: implementation of an agreed international protocol [corrected] designed by the WHOQOL Group for the conduct of focus groups eliciting the quality of life of older adults.

Multi-centre and cross-cultural research require the use of common protocols if the results are to be either pooled or compared. All too often adherence to protocols is not discussed in reports and where it is reported poor adherence is frequently noted. This paper discusses the use of international guidelines developed by WHOQOL Field Centres to conduct and report focus groups aimed at eliciting key concepts of quality of life among older adults. This was the first step in the development of the WHOQOL-OLD instrument. Although there was overall adherence to the agreed guidelines, there were some differences in the level of reporting, even after participating Field Centres had the opportunity to explain their reports. The reasons for these discrepancies are reported. It is concluded that because of local situations, it is difficult to achieve identical implementation of multi-centre cross-cultural protocols and that the highest standards of auditing are required if findings are to be compared. Suggestions for how such protocols can be improved are given.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

A focus group investigation into young children's understanding of mental health and their views on appropriate services for their age group.

BACKGROUND: Children's views about mental health and concurrent service provision are under researched areas. Yet there is concern regarding appropriate service development to meet the increasing mental health needs of children and young people. Recent government policy underlines the need for collaborative work with consumers in service development. METHOD: This was a qualitative study designed to explore 10- and 11-year-old children's understanding of the concept of mental health and their opinions regarding an appropriate service for their age group. Two focus groups were conducted with 10- and 11-year-old children and the data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. RESULTS: The participants showed a sophisticated understanding of mental health. The participants thought that school-based services would not be appropriate for their age group. CONCLUSION: The participants demonstrated that their level of understanding and interest qualifies them for a place in discussions about services for their age group. Collaborative work with children and young people in line with government policy in this area is necessary for appropriate service development.

Child↗

PubMed1995

Qualitative research. Introducing focus groups.

This paper introduces focus group methodology, gives advice on group composition, running the groups, and analysing the results. Focus groups have advantages for researchers in the field of health and medicine: they do not discriminate against people who cannot read or write and they can encourage participation from people reluctant to be interviewed on their own or who feel they have nothing to say.

Communication↗

PubMed1998

Focus groups in dermatology.

Focus groups have considerable potential for study of the attitudes and experiences of patients and health care providers within dermatology. This article describes the use of such groups, using specific dermatological examples.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed1994

Toward a consensus for health care reform: the use of focus group interviews.

Ten focus group interviews were conducted, with each group representing a different constituency of a regional health care system. Among the groups, there appeared to be similar visions of what the system should be, and similar assessments of the status quo and future trends. But there were differences about what barriers to reform exist and what compromises among the constituencies are necessary. Every group stated the need to educate the public about healthy behaviors, self-reliance, and responsible use of health care resources.

Focus Groups↗

PubMed1993

Investigating Hispanic adolescent involvement with alcohol: a focus group interview approach.

Focus group interviews were conducted with Hispanic teenagers to explore their patterns of alcohol consumption, influences on drinking and possible intervention strategies. The findings revealed that drinking and alcohol-impaired driving are common. Conviviality and social facilitation are the predominant contexts for alcohol consumption in this population. The strong influence of peers was detected where drinking to 'fit in' and be part of the crowd was observed. Parents were also noted to have influence. Some parents actively promoted drinking among their sons as it is often seen as a sign of masculinity or 'machismo'. Suggestions for effective prevention strategies included a preference for messages which vividly portray the harmful consequences of alcohol consumption and the use of testimonials from people who have suffered some form of impairment due to alcohol abuse. Teens, especially those who speak Spanish and understand the Hispanic culture, were seen as the most credible spokespersons for prevention campaigns.

Adolescent↗