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Background to qualitative research

The philosophical underpinnings for qualitative research are hard to grasp if one has not been exposed to philosophical ideas such as the nature of reality and knowledge, e.g. ontology and epistemology. Qualitative research expertise traditionally lies within disciplines such as psychology, anthropology, sociology, nursing and education. In medicine, we are not guided into these P value-free terrains. Our training is scientific and practical. Our interest in knowledge is for its practical application in care of the sick. However, what is exciting for doctors and related to qualitative research is the idea that there are different ways of knowing. Qualitative research approaches enable us to explore systematically and creatively other ways of knowing.

Examples of qualitative research

The research question one poses determines whether a qualitative approach is required. An example from a general medicine perspective might be: what is the experience for junior and senior doctors of the morning handover meeting. One could explore the question quantitatively, i.e. survey the handover attendees, count the length of the meeting, the number of patients, diagnoses, scores for complexity, etc. In an alternative approach, one could interview, individually or in focus groups attendees seeking to understand their experience of this pivotal daily event. Alternatively, one could observe and analyse handover meetings or combine both approaches. The researcher could be a medical junior or senior doctor or an independent researcher. How one designs the qualitative approach to this question will be determined by the researcher’s focus as well as pragmatically according to resources and feasibility. What emerges from such an in-depth qualitative look at this daily event is an understanding on a human, relational and clinical level.1

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