A Systematic Approach for Using Qualitative Methods in Primary Prevention Research

Abstract

In this article we delineate a systematic approachfor incorporating qualitative methods in research on primary prevention. Using examples from our studies of both smoking and cessation processes, we describe our procedure in four consecutive stages: (]) interviews and fieldnotes, (2) case studies or life histories, (3) discourse and content analyses to identify emergent issues and themes which are subsequently standardized as codes, and (4) the interpretation of sociocultural patterns and idioms of bodily experience. The relevance of qualitative methods in primary preventive medicine is discussed with examples from our own research on smoking. We argue that this form of basic research is an essential precursor to culturally effective interventions in clinical as well as community settings.

Unmet Needs for Mental Health Services for Latino Older Adults: Perspectives from Consumers, Family Members, Advocates, and Service Providers

“…Using a methodology of "Coding Consensus, Co-occurrence, and Comparison" outlined by Willms et al (1992) and rooted in grounded theory (i.e., theory derived from data and then illustrated by characteristic examples of data) (Glaser and Strauss, 1967), individual interview and focus group audiotapes were analyzed as follows. The first author and two research staff members (all bilingual and of Mexican heritage) reviewed the audiotapes and independently conducted a content analysis to condense the data into analyzable units.…”

“…Provisional categories of emergent themes were developed to facilitate further coding. The results of the content analysis produced by each reviewer were discussed and through constant comparison, different categories were condensed further into broad summary themes (Willms, Best, and Taylor, 1992). Finally, the relationships among the categories and broad themes were considered for their utility in operationalizing salient domains across stakeholder individual interviews, focus groups, and field notes.…”

Knowledge and perceptions of colorectal cancer screening among urban African Americans

“…[43][44][45][46] Setting All focus group participants were recruited from a large, urban community health center in a Mid-Western City.…”

“…[43][44][45][46] Participants Study staff approached individuals in the health center's main lobby to ask about participation. All individuals (primary care patients and visitors) 50 years who self-identified as African American and were without obvious mental or cognitive impairment were considered eligible.…”

Reflections on wisdom at the end of life: qualitative study of hospice patients aged 58–97 years

“…These transcripts reflected the content of the interviews verbatim, thereby allowing reviewers to code the content in full. Based within the methodology of "Coding Consensus, Co-occurrence, and Comparison" as outlined by Willms et al (1990), the interview transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory analytic approach (Glaser and Strauss, 1967).…”