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PubMed2003

Needs assessment of persons with multiple sclerosis and significant others: using the literature review and focus groups for preliminary survey questionnaire development.

The purpose of this study was to conduct focus group interviews to obtain information for development of a needs assessment questionnaire. Four focus groups were conducted with 10 people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and five significant others. A facilitator from the learning services department at the hospital conducted the interviews guided by questions developed by the researcher. The focus group interviews were audiotaped and transcribed. The researcher analyzed the transcribed interviews. Content analysis was used to analyze the transcribed data creating categories from key words and phrases as they appeared. The findings were grouped by themes. The results highlighted the participants' experiences and needs regarding physical changes; sources of assistance; unmet needs; psychological, employment, leisure, and informational needs. A comparison of themes developed from the focus groups and in the literature captured categories for questionnaire development. One new theme, leisure, was not found in the literature and was incorporated based on the findings of this study. The final categories for questionnaire development were: physical, health, psychological, financial, employment/meaningful daytime activity and leisure, accessibility and information. A survey questionnaire was developed from the focus group data using the phraseology of the participants.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

Making sense of focus groups.

CONTEXT: This paper provides an overview of the contribution of medical education research which has employed focus group methodology to evaluate both undergraduate education and continuing professional development. PRACTICALITIES AND PROBLEMS: It also examines current debates about the ethics and practicalities involved in conducting focus group research. It gives guidance as to how to go about designing and planning focus group studies, highlighting common misconceptions and pitfalls, emphasising that most problems stem from researchers ignoring the central assumptions which underpin the qualitative research endeavour. PRESENTING AND DEVELOPING FOCUS GROUP RESEARCH: Particular attention is paid to analysis and presentation of focus group work and the uses to which such information is put. Finally, it speculates about the future of focus group research in general and research in medical education in particular.

Biomedical Research↗

PubMed2002

Using focus groups as a research method: a personal experience.

AIM: The personal experience and systematic process of using focus groups as a research method to assist change within an NHS Trust are described. BACKGROUND: Focus groups have recently emerged as a popular qualitative research method in health research and were used in a qualitative research study to explore, from an Enrolled Nurse perspective, what it was that prevented them coming forward for conversion to the First Level of the UKCC Nursing Register. METHOD: The author facilitated the five focus groups with Enrolled Nurse membership within the local organizational context. Data were recorded on audio-tapes and transcribed in preparation for analysis. RESULTS: The use of focus groups in health care research has key benefits for involving people in the research process and the subsequent changes that may occur as a result. The use of focus groups presented real challenges in the area of recruiting Enrolled Nurses to engage in such a process. CONCLUSIONS: Focus groups have a valuable role to play in both research and the involvement of people in organizational change and development. However, to persuade traditionally disempowered groups to engage in the process will be a challenge to the leaders of such projects.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of focus group interviews in pediatric health care research.

OBJECTIVE: To review and synethize the research material on focus groups with children and adolescents and to provide guidelines for future development. METHODS: Psychlit, Medline, and Cinahl electronic databases, as well as the reference lists of those articles consulted, were reviewed for information regarding focus groups with participants under the age of 18 years. Both empirical and methodological articles were part of this review. RESULTS: We review the utility of focus groups for exploratory research, program evaluation, program development, and questionnaire construction or adaptation. Based on previous research, we provide guidelines for focus groups with children and adolescents and outline suggestions for future development. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence to suggest that focus groups are a valuable means of eliciting children's views on health-related matters, given an appropriate research question. However, empirical research is required in order to investigate systematically the effect of different processes and variables on the final outcome of focus group interviews.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Using focus groups to assess primary care patients' satisfaction.

The present report describes the use of patient focus groups by a primary health care facility. We review our rationale for using focus groups and the process we used to prepare for and conduct them. We then highlight the results and lessons learned through this experience. Focus groups can be an excellent method for primary care practices to assess the complexities of patient satisfaction issues and engage patients in the continuous quality improvement process. Focus groups can uncover unanticipated issues that surveys fail to identify. Our experience demonstrated that this benefit can be critical in identifying and prioritizing quality of care improvements and that focus group results can be used to make immediate improvements in the quality of care, even though this type of study is not intended to generalize.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

PubMed1994

The focus group as a tool for health research: issues in design and analysis.

The focus group is a technique for eliciting information from specific population subgroups. Issues addressed may be little known or relatively well known to the researcher. The method is most effectively used when the objective of the investigation is to elicit points of view of client or consumer groups which may differ from those of providers. Despite the frequency with which focus groups are used, few published materials describe the practical application of the method. This paper presents a detailed methodology for the conduct of focus groups and analysis of focus-group data with the intention of improving its use among researchers and health-care professionals. Data from two studies, immunization compliance in West Africa, and barriers to use of prenatal-care services in Bolivia, are used as illustrative examples.

Bolivia↗

PubMed1991

Focus group: implications for program evaluation of mental health services.

The focus group is a qualitative research method that involves group interaction based on a selected topic. It generally involves eight to 12 individuals who discuss a particular topic under the direction of a moderator who promotes interaction and guides the discussion on the topic of interest. This paper presents theoretical perspectives and a review of focus group methodology applied in related disciplines. A research project, which applied the focus group methodology, is described to illustrate important principles in utilizing this qualitative research technique. Information related to preparation for focus group sessions, structure, setting, participants, principles related to conducting the session and analysis are presented. The relevance of this methodology for research and practice in mental health also is discussed.

Group Processes↗

PubMed2001

The use of focus group interviews in Asian medical education evaluative research.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of focus group interviews in Asian medical education evaluative research. METHODS: Randomly selected medical students were invited to participate in 30 focus group interviews to provide in-depth data about the effect on their learning of the introduction of early clinical skills. Efforts were made to meet all the students to help them understand the objectives of the focus group. Confidentiality was emphasised and a non-faculty interviewer was recruited for the interviews. RESULTS: The students considered the use of focus groups to be a more meaningful way of collecting students' opinions than other methods, for example structured questionnaire, because it allowed an interactive discussion. They also felt that having an independent non-faculty interview moderator had encouraged them to express their opinions more candidly during the interviews. CONCLUSION: The use of focus group interviews among Asian medical students for evaluative research is practical and efficient.

Asia↗

PubMed2004

The learning curve: the advantages and disadvantages in the use of focus groups as a method of data collection.

Focus groups are not simply a discussion between people, but are focused interviews exploring interactions between participants. In this paper, Ian Mansell, Glynis Bennett, Ruth Northway, Donna Mead and Laurie Moseley explore the complexities and practicalities of using focus groups in research, with reference to a study of palliative care services.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1998

Improving patient satisfaction through focus group interviews.

Long used by the social science community, focus groups have been increasingly used by nursing leaders to obtain information and feedback. Use of the focus group interview (FGI), a qualitative research method, allows the nurse executive the opportunity to obtain data on a variety of topics. In order for the findings to be meaningful, however, the researcher must adhere to basic FGI design and data analysis. Like other research methodologies, the focus group offers advantages and disadvantages that must be evaluated for appropriateness and feasibility. The article illustrates the use of the FGI to spark the creation of patient-focused care and significant increases in patient satisfaction in an academic medical center.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

PubMed2003

Elaborating patient information with patients themselves: lessons from a cancer treatment focus group.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the significance of patients' input in the elaboration of a patient information booklet. DESIGN: Qualitative study based on focus group discussions. SETTING: Centre Léon Bérard, a comprehensive cancer centre in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. PARTICIPANTS: (1) A multidisciplinary working group (oncologists, health economists and one clinical psychologist) wrote up initial information documents concerning possible breast cancer treatments. (2) A focus group comprised of patients with a history of breast cancer and healthy volunteers discussed their reactions to these documents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Analysis of the focus group's reactions according to key themes predetermined by the working group and related themes introduced by the focus group itself. RESULTS: The focus group proposed numerous, significant modifications to answer requests for additional information, clarification and better readability in the information booklets. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative analysis showed a significant input of patients' perspective in the elaboration of patient information. It is also an additional support to the feasibility and appropriateness of the focus group technique. The next stage will be to test whether information documents produced here conform to the needs of patients currently undergoing treatment.

Cancer Care Facilities↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Videotaped focus groups: transforming a therapeutic strategy into a research tool.

Focus groups have become a popular method of collecting data for research projects. The addition of using a videotaped approach has broad implications for researchers, as it allows constant replay of the session. Although on the surface this approach seems straightforward and easy to use, the authors caution that this is not an approach for the novice. Investigators planning to use a focus group method must be well versed in group process. There is an unpredictable nature to the focus group process, and researchers need to prepare for the inevitable mishaps that lead to lost opportunities for data collection.

Data Collection↗

PubMed2001

The focus group: a tool for programme planning, assessment and decision-making--an American view.

The objective of this paper is to describe the focus group process used with hospital librarians in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Southwest Region (NN/LM/PSR), in order to illustrate how focus groups can be effectively used in the library setting to plan programmes around identified needs. This paper explores the focus group methodology, a qualitative research technique, by discussing why it is used and the process involved in its use. Aspects of the methodology that are discussed include participant selection, question development, data analysis, and use of results in programme planning. The focus group findings assisted NN/LM/PSR in understanding the needs of hospital librarians related to integrating electronic resources into library services. The focus group data were used to determine the forum, content and speakers for a day-long symposium and subsequent planning meeting. The use of the focus group technique to assess the needs of a specific group on a specific issue resulted in activities and programmes that met these needs successfully. Based on the experiences detailed in this paper, the authors are confident that focus groups are an effective tool for programme planning, needs assessment and decision-making for all types of libraries.

Arizona↗

PubMed2002

[Identifying perceived needs among nurses in providing their patients with smoking cessation support in a Japanese hospital results from focus group interviews].

OBJECTIVE: To identify perceived needs among nurses in providing their patients with smoking cessation support in a Japanese hospital. SUBJECTS: Thirty-three female nurses who were interested in providing their patients with smoking cessation support in the hospital setting participated in focus group interviews. They conducted six focus group interviews segmented by age, working conditions (e.g., outpatient or inpatient sections) and occupational class (e.g., administrative post or not). DESIGN: An experienced researcher moderated two focus groups and another researcher who received training moderated four focus groups. At least two observers hand-recorded participants' conversations in each group and all groups were also tape-recorded. Moderators and observers analyzed the focus group data together. RESULTS: We found that smoking cessation counseling or health education on effects of smoking to be rarely conducted in the hospital. The study participants ordinarily just told patients to stop smoking. They mentioned several barriers to conducting smoking cessation support and suggested a number of ideas to promote this aim in the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: The focus group interview is an effective means to determine the needs and interests of Japanese health professionals. Nurses have many opinions and insights for supporting smoking patients. To introduce a smoking cessation program into hospitals, there are various problems that should be solved. First, nurses and other health professionals should have accurate knowledge, positive attitudes and appropriate skills for smoking cessation support. Second, smoking cessation support should be programmed as part of treatment or nursing. Third, healthcare professionals, especially doctors, should collaborate in supporting patients to stop smoking. Fourth, the hospital environment should be modified to promote smoking cessation. Finally, hospitals should develop a consensus among all staff about the importance of smoking cessation support and smoking control activities. As the result, multidimensional strategies are needed to effectively promote smoking cessation support in the hospital setting.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Preparing for the 21st century. Planning with focus groups.

The job market for nursing graduates is changing, and nursing schools must respond to the changes. The author describes the process of using focus groups to facilitate a constructive dialogue between nurse administrators, clinicians, educators, and students. The groups focused on adapting the curriculum to changing market conditions. Recommendations and outcomes are highlighted. Nursing educators are encouraged to critically examine their own programs in preparation for the 21st century.

Curriculum↗

PubMed1996

Focus groups: collecting aggregate-level data to understand community health phenomena.

Focus-group method is an apt strategy for studying community health phenomena at the aggregate level. Not only can its use facilitate the inclusion of segments of the population who have been underserved by previous research, but it can generate a depth of understanding about public health problems, community strengths, and potential interventions that have local meaning and utility. Advantages and potential uses of focus groups are explored, as well as purposes and processes of focus-group interviewing, strategies for analysis, methodological limitations, and implications for practice and policy. The author presents investigatory examples to illustrate how focus-group method expands on the possibilities of individual interviewing to explore community interpretations and understand the health needs and experiences of an aggregate.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The "virtual focus group": using the Internet to reach pregnant women on home bed rest.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this qualitative study was threefold: to investigate the effectiveness of a 'virtual focus group" as a mechanism for collecting qualitative data, to explore the lived experience of pregnant women confined to home bed rest following a diagnosis of preterm labor, and to assess the value of the virtual focus group as an online peer support group for women on home bed rest. DESIGN: A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive investigation, carried out through the use of a virtual focus group, defined as an Internet-based research method that utilizes electronic mail (e-mail) to unite spatially and temporally separate participants in a text-based group discussion. SETTING: Data collection was conducted via the Internet and consisted of a series of sequential questions presented by the researchers to the participants via e-mail over a 4-week period. PARTICIPANTS: A purposive sample of 7 women who were on home bed rest for the treatment of preterm labor. Four participants were recruited from a World Wide Web site dedicated to discussions of high-risk pregnancy, and 3 from the perinatal service center of a large health maintenance organization in Northern California. RESULTS: The virtual focus group process generated rich and detailed qualitative data. Three major categories and seven subcategories regarding the lived experience of home bed rest were identified: the effect of bed rest on participants' lives (transitioning onto bed rest, loss of control and activities, changes in identity and role, coping and personal growth, transitioning off bed rest), the effect of bed rest on relationships with others (relationships with the fetus and other children, relationships with husbands and extended family members), and the virtual focus group as an online peer support group. Participants were unanimous in their appreciation of the virtual focus group. All participants stated that their participation was valuable and beneficial in helping them to cope with the hardships of bed rest. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the virtual focus group is a useful tool for both collecting qualitative data and mediating the challenges and isolation of home bed rest. Confinement to bed rest at home dramatically alters women's daily activities, self-perceptions, and interpersonal relationships. Understanding the impact of bed rest on women's lives can help nurses to develop appropriate interventions for this unique population. The use of the virtual focus group allows nurses to embrace the technology of the Internet to study and connect women on home bed rest, as well as other isolated and understudied patient groups.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Focus group methodology for patients, parents, and siblings.

This report describes methodology that can be used as a guideline for the planning, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of data from focus groups for parents/caregivers, siblings, and children diagnosed with an illness; the methodology provides tools for the conduct of such groups in the same or similar populations. Separate focus group sessions were conducted for parents/guardians, siblings, and affected children. Methodological enhancements in planning and conducting the focus group sessions include development of a sampling frame to derive a representative group of participants, standardization of procedures through the use of a moderator's training manual tailored to each group, identification of topics to broaden content areas and stimulate discussion, and creation of a comfortable environment in which participants could express issues. Statistical considerations regarding design and conduct of the focus group session, as well as acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data are presented with regard to validity, reliability, and generalizability of information gathered from focus group interviews. Scripts, topics, and timeframes that were initially devised by content experts were validated further and revised for direct use or adaptation by clinicians in the conduct of focus group sessions for parents/guardians, siblings, and affected children. Application of this methodology is intended to promote generalizability, reliability, and validity of information obtained, and to enable health care practitioners to provide better care to young patients and their families.

Family↗