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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Methodological considerations in children's focus groups.

Focus groups are a well-known qualitative approach to gathering data in health science research. The literature on focus groups, however, primarily discusses adults as subjects. Unfortunately, the scant reports of studies using children as participants in focus groups have not described their methods in detail. This article discusses the use of children (age 6-12) in focus groups, and highlights methodological considerations in this approach, with particular attention to the integration of developmental principles. Focus groups with children can capture their perspectives, original ideas, and insights, which are often neglected in more traditional pediatric research. Focus groups can also serve as an innovative approach to understanding children's experiences from a developmental perspective. Further, focus groups free children and investigator from the data-gathering limitations placed by literacy/reading levels that plague quantitative methods using self-report. By using relatively homogeneous groups, common cultural, emotional, and cognitive processes and responses are revealed that normally would not come to light in structured data collection. Focus groups offer a rich, interactive and developmentally effective approach to planning, content and evaluation in research with children.

Child↗
PubMed1998

Can raters consistently evaluate the content of focus groups?

Focus groups are increasingly being used to provide insights to researchers and policy makers. These data complement quantitative approaches to understanding the world. Unfortunately, quantitative and qualitative methodologies have often been viewed as antithetical, rather than complementary, strategies. While focus groups can clearly generate rich information that is unobtainable through other quantitative methods, it is important to determine the degree to which different raters can consistently extract information from transcripts. Thus, our goal was to quantify agreement in the interpretation of transcripts from patient and physician focus groups, using decision-making in ischemic heart disease as a model. We used data from focus groups with both patients and physicians that sought to identify factors affecting diagnostic and treatment decisions in ischemic heart disease. Three raters independently reviewed transcribed audiotapes from focus groups of patients with ischemic heart disease, as well as focus groups of physicians who care for these patients. We found that raters could not distinguish between major and minor factors reliably. More troubling, however, is that consistency regarding the apparently straightforward judgment as to the mere presence or absence of a factor was difficult to achieve. In particular, the three raters of each transcript failed to agree on between one third and one half of the factors. This reasonably high level of disagreement occurred despite the raters: (1) having generated the individual factors themselves based upon their reading a random sample of actual transcripts and (2) being trained in the use of rating forms (including standard definitions of themes). These data suggest that if a single rater evaluates focus group transcripts, as is commonly done, judgments may not be reproducible by other raters. Moreover, a single rater may not extract all important information contained in the transcripts.

Female↗
PubMed1992

What works best for worksite cholesterol education? Answers from targeted focus groups.

Focus group discussions are an effective way to determine the needs and interests of a target population. In August 1989, eight focus group discussions were conducted with municipal employees in Phoenix, Ariz, to determine the needs and interests of potential participants in a worksite cholesterol education program. Employees were selected for the focus groups on the basis of an initial screening that determined their motivation to change customary eating habits. Individuals categorized as "somewhat motivated" were invited to participate in the focus groups because researchers thought they would best represent the motivation level of the majority of potential participants in the cholesterol education program. The focus group participants indicated that they preferred educational formats and approaches that appealed to diverse learning styles and recognized individual differences. Several of the program features identified by the focus groups are consistent with principles of adult education, especially active participation in the learning activity. The focus group participants wanted information presented in a simple, easy-to-understand manner, and they asked for behavioral directives rather than background information or medical jargon. Release time from work and employer commitment to the program were viewed as important to the success of the program. We conclude that employees respond best to worksite wellness programs that are simple, practical, and relevant and that allow them to participate actively in the learning activity during work time.

Cholesterol, Dietary↗
PubMed2005

The focus group method: insights from focus group interviews on sexual health with adolescents.

This article concerns the manner in which group interaction during focus groups impacted upon the data generated in a study of adolescent sexual health. Twenty-nine group interviews were conducted with secondary school pupils in Ireland, and data were subjected to a qualitative analysis. In exploring the relationship between method and theory generation, we begin by focusing on the ethnographic potential within group interviews. We propose that at times during the interviews, episodes of acting-out, or presenting a particular image in the presence of others, can be highly revealing in attempting to understand the normative rules embedded in the culture from which participants are drawn. However, we highlight a specific problem with distinguishing which parts of the group interview are a valid representation of group processes and which parts accurately reflect individuals' retrospective experiences of reality. We also note that at various points in the interview, focus groups have the potential to reveal participants' vulnerabilities. In addition, group members themselves can challenge one another on how aspects of their sub-culture are represented within the focus group, in a way that is normally beyond reach within individual interviews. The formation and composition of focus groups, particularly through the clustering of like-minded individuals, can affect the dominant views being expressed within specific groups. While focus groups have been noted to have an educational and transformative potential, we caution that they may also be a source of inaccurate information, placing participants at risk. Finally, the opportunities that focus groups offer in enabling researchers to cross-check the trustworthiness of data using a post-interview questionnaire are considered. We conclude by arguing that although far from flawless, focus groups are a valuable method for gathering data about health issues.

Acting Out↗
PubMed1998

Collecting and analysing qualitative data: issues raised by the focus group.

The focus group has gained considerable popularity as a means of gathering qualitative data in nursing research. This paper examines some of the methodological issues raised by the collection and analysis of focus group data. In respect of data collection, the role of the focus group moderator and the method of recording data are crucial considerations. In particular, the moderator's personal skills and attributes have a considerable influence on the nature and quality of the data gathered. When analysing the data, three principal issues arise. First, it is difficult, and probably misguided, to attempt to infer an attitudinal consensus from focus group data. An apparent conformity of view is an emergent property of the group interaction, not a reflection of individual participants' opinions. Second, measuring strength of opinion from focus group data is problematic. The indicators used to measure attitudes in orthodox survey research are largely inapplicable to the context of focus groups. When comparing data from different focus groups, inferences may be drawn as to the presence of absence of certain views or issues across groups, but not in terms of their relative strength. Third, both methodological and epistemological objections can be raised against attempts to generalize from focus group data. Theoretical generalization is likely to be more feasible than empirical generalization, and if the latter is considered fruitful, it is likely to be of a provisional nature. The effective use of focus groups as a means of gathering qualitative data in nursing research requires due attention to problematic methodological issues such as those explored in this paper.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1995

Women's perceptions and experience of menopause: a focus group study.

Focus groups were used to investigate women's perception and experience of menopause, hormone replacement therapy, osteoporosis and doctor-patient relationships. Forty women aged between 45 and 55 years participated in seven focus groups. Most women thought that these topics were not widely or freely discussed in the community. Nevertheless they were able to share their experiences on this occasion. Lack of reliable, accessible and current information on menopause and related topics was identified as a problem. This was compounded by the contradictory nature of the information which was available. Hysterectomy and osteoporosis were identified as specific areas in which information was inadequate and not readily accessible. Solutions suggested by the women included distributing information pamphlets with contact numbers for further information to non-health-related settings such as hairdressing salons. The need to foster open discussion between women and their doctors was highlighted, with contributions required from both parties to develop a more equal partnership. A review of doctors' and women's surveillance practices with regard to hormone replacement therapy may also be warranted. We found focus groups a useful method for accessing women's experiences and perceptions. There was particular benefit in researchers being involved as moderators and scribes, and in an early post-focus group meeting to amplify and clarify records of the discussions. Small group size and an emphasis on confidentiality were, we believe, helpful strategies in encouraging discussion of intimate topics.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1996

Planning a health education programme for the elderly visually impaired person--a focus group study.

Focus group methodology was used with the aim of learning how persons with the diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration perceived and described their disease, and how the disease had changed their activities of daily living (ADL). This information is seen as critical in designing a health education programme. The focus group participants described problems in performing ADL. Factors contributing to the ADL problems were categorized as functional limitations in, and feelings about performing, ADL. The participants used a number of ADL strategies to adapt to new situations. The participants expressed uncertainty regarding whether senile macular degeneration, age-related macular degeneration and 'yellow spot' were the same disease. They expressed a desire to know more about the disease and its consequences. They particularly requested time for receiving information, and the opportunity to discuss it, as in the focus groups. This target group need a health education programme based on their own perceptions. The main issues in such a programme should be to convey information, teach ADL strategies, provide support and foster problem-solving.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impact of a residential psychosocial program for cancer patients: a focus group investigation.

Focus groups of past program participants were conducted to explore the impact of a novel residential psychosocial intervention for cancer patients. All participants had attended the program between 6 months and 1 year prior to the study. The intention was to elicit a broad range of feedback regarding the program's effects on people living with cancer. Of particular interest was the assessment of lasting outcomes for participants, and possibilities for program improvement. This article reports the substantive understanding resulting from these focus groups, and discusses the beneficial impact, effective program characteristics, and controversial issues of residential psychosocial programming.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

Adherence-related behavior in adolescents with asthma: results from focus group interviews.

Focus group interviews were conducted with 14 adolescents with asthma to explore self-management behavior, in particular with regard to adherence behavior. In addition, the adolescents discussed their feelings about having asthma, gave insight into how they evaluate the provided health care, and made recommendations for healthcare providers and for the development of patient education materials. The majority of participants did not take their prophylactic asthma medication regularly, and were rather late in starting to use their bronchodilator. They were sometimes fed up with having asthma. Moreover, the majority of participants were not always frank in telling their pediatrician how they managed their asthma. Finally, they found it essential that information about asthma should be given personally and not by means of leaflets, and recommended that healthcare providers should use audio-visual aids to illustrate what they are explaining. The results of the focus group interviews have been used for the development of an intervention program which aims at enhancing adherence in adolescents with asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Focus groups: a qualitative method complementing quantitative research for studying culturally diverse groups.

CONTEXT: Focus groups are becoming an important method for conducting qualitative research in health care. This strategy enables information to be gathered on the perceptions, beliefs, and values of a group's participants and is particularly well suited to addressing cultural characteristics that impact on a population's health status. As nations become more culturally diverse, qualitative research will likely play a growing role in helping health professions educators develop appropriate educational programs and in helping researchers better understand the needs of minorities and other vulnerable populations who are experiencing disparities in health care. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this paper are to introduce the usefulness of a qualitative research strategy as an adjunct to quantitative survey research, and to describe briefly how researchers and educators at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Drew) have utilized this strategy when conducting combined qualitative and quantitative research. DISCUSSION: Focus group research has been successfully used to develop culturally adapted surveys, to develop educational programs, and to conduct needs assessments at Drew, which serves a culturally diverse urban population.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Assessing nutrition education wants and needs of older adults through focus groups.

Five focus groups assessed the nutrition education wants and needs of 37 non-institutionalized older adults ages 60 and older. Discussions were tape-recorded, transcribed and coded to facilitate data analysis. Findings cited most frequently included; doctors were influential, nutrition contributed to good health, basic nutrition topics were wanted/needed, written materials were used most often, demonstration and discussion methods were prevalently used/wanted, and service providers were primarily informed directly about wants/needs. Older adults wanted/needed nutrition education to improve their health and make informed decisions, and because the topic interested them. Information obtained could be used to develop more focused nutrition education programs for older adults.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Exploring attitudes toward, and knowledge of, homeopathy and CAM through focus groups.

Five focus groups (five female non-users; five male non-users; seven males, both users and non-users; seven female users; six male and female users) were conducted to get an idea of lay people's knowledge and attitudes to CAM. In each group, run by the same experienced moderator, various topics were systematically explored: knowledge of CAM treatments; attitudes towards CAM; personal experience of CAM; suggestions for bringing CAM into wider use. Results showed participants had self-confessed ignorance about homeopathy and also that their ideas and beliefs were not internally coherent. Suggestions about using this methodology are considered.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Preliminary guidelines for the evaluation and management of dyslipidemia in adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus and receiving antiretroviral therapy: Recommendations of the Adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group Cardiovascular Disease Focus Group.

Dyslipidemia is a prevalent condition that affects patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are receiving antiretroviral therapy. These preliminary recommendations summarize the current understanding in this area and propose guidelines for management. Existing guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia in the general population formed the general basis for our recommendations. Data on the prevalence and treatment of dyslipidemia of HIV-infected patients, implications of treatment-related dyslipidemia in other chronically ill populations, and pharmacokinetic profiles for the available hypolipidemic agents in non-HIV populations were considered. Although the implications of dyslipidemia in this population are not fully known, the frequency, type, and magnitude of lipid alterations in HIV-infected people are expected to result in increased cardiovascular morbidity. We propose that these patients undergo evaluation and treatment on the basis of existing guidelines for dyslipidemia, with the caveat that avoidance of interactions with antiretroviral agents is paramount.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Gerontological research: use and application of focus groups.

In gerontology, focus groups are designed to obtain information from a small group of older adults about their feelings, opinions, and perceptions about a given problem, experience, service, program, or phenomenon. Although focus groups have many uses, they are best suited for exploratory qualitative research when the researcher is interested in learning more about a specific phenomenon. Advantages to using focus groups as a qualitative data collection technique include effective use of time, money, and effort; the benefit of group synergy; the ability to gain immediate validation of information by others in the group; and the ability to ask for direct clarification and to probe for deeper levels of information from the participants. Drawbacks of the focus group technique might include the researcher's group process techniques; the inability to generalize the findings to the population of interest; the breadth of information possible in one group sitting; and the time-consuming process of data transcription.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Psychiatric group supervision in general practice. A project evaluated by group focusing].

A group supervision project in psychiatry in general practice was established in 1992. The aims were to increase competence and interest in psychiatry and to contribute to a supervision model in psychiatry among general practitioners in a sparsely populated area. The group leader, who was a psychiatrist with competence in group analysis met with seven physicians for a three hour evening meeting once a month over a period of two years. The meetings were structured with a planned session at the beginning followed by a more open session. A focus group approach was used as the evaluation method. This method showed its usefulness in enabling the group to adjust its structure after an evaluation conducted after one year had passed and the conclusion at the end of the project period was: Group supervision can contribute to increased competence in psychiatry among general practitioners. It seems to increase the doctors' confidence and endurance in relation to psychiatric problems in family practice and provides an important opportunity to share difficult experiences with colleagues.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1994

Children's knowledge and beliefs about AIDS: qualitative data from focus group interviews.

Focus groups were used as a qualitative technique to elicit knowledge and attitudes of children in Grades 3 to 6 about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Twenty-seven small groups of children responded to open-ended questions about general AIDS knowledge; transmission, causation, consequences, and prevention of AIDS; emotional response to AIDS; and susceptibility. Results indicate that children have a high level of awareness about AIDS and correct knowledge about the modes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. They understand that AIDS is a serious illness that cannot be cured and know the main ways of preventing HIV infection. Participants had more difficulty explaining causation and greatly overestimated the number of people their age and in high school that might be infected. They also had difficulty applying accurate knowledge to the hypothetical situation of encountering a child with AIDS in school. Misconceptions about AIDS exist at all grade levels, but appear more prevalent in lower grades, whereas increased complexity seems to characterize responses of older children. Recommendations for health educators are made.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1999

Access to and use of out-of-hours services by members of Vietnamese community groups in South London: a focus group study.

BACKGROUND: Communication difficulties, lack of knowledge of services and the appropriateness of services influence access to health care services by black and ethnic minority groups. These problems may be accentuated outside normal working hours. This may be so particularly for those who do not speak English as a first language, as interpreting services across the UK are extremely limited in the out-of-hours period. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the experiences and perceptions of members of the Vietnamese community groups in seeking out-of-hours health services and to identify potential solutions from participants' perspectives. METHOD: This qualitative study used a focus group methodology. Participants were members of three established community groups in the South London boroughs of Southwark and Lewisham. Participants attended six focus groups which were conducted in Cantonese and Vietnamese. RESULTS: Participants did not know about GPs' out-of-hours arrangements. And their access to the range of services normally available was limited. They were unable to communicate with health care professionals or answering services and were unaware of out-of-hours interpreting arrangements. Generally, participants were dependent on other people in gaining access to services. Some participants had used 999 services despite communication problems. Participants' experienced delays in seeking health care services and confusion regarding the medicines and advice given. CONCLUSIONS: Communication difficulties limited knowledge of and access to out-of-hours services for the Vietnamese participants. Direct contact with interpreters in the out-of-hours period was suggested as a means of increasing participants' ability to gain access to services. Health service planners need to be aware of the difficulties experienced by such groups if issues of equity in gaining access to health care services are to be addressed.

Adult↗