Investigação qualitativa na área da saúde: por quê?

Abstract

Qualitative research in the area of health: the whys and whereforesResearchers in the area of health, in which the hegemony of clinical trials prevails, still look askance upon the idiosyncrasies of qualitative research. The uncertainty regarding what qualitative research really is, and what its contribution to this area represents, still persists. It is often said "One cannot generalize," "It lacks substance," "Few individuals are studied" and, even disparagingly, "This is very subjective." These criticisms have contributed to the evolution of qualitative research and highlight the rigor behind well-conducted studies. Although statistical generalization has not been established, there has been a marked focus on internal validity that measures the specificities of the group/phenomenon/case studied. The contributions to the construction of knowledge are undeniable, since what is eventually lost in scope is gained in depth and understanding. The detailed description of phenomena and their subsequent deconstruction and reconstruction, enhance the mobilization and critical transferability of knowledge, thereby enabling analytical generalization.The inseparability of the phenomena from their context underpin qualitative research, as it is impossible to discern opinions, perceptions and the significance of individuals by silencing the context. It is the contextualized specification that makes it possible to aspire to higher levels of understanding.After this "eye-opener" on qualitative research, the question arises: Why conduct qualitative research in the area of health? The answer is that qualitative methods have much to offer to those who study the health services. Firstly, the growing credibility of mixed studies today will gradually break down the quantitative-qualitative dichotomy, either by using qualitative investigation as exploratory for the quantitative research or, conversely, by clarifying, based on questionnaires, opinions and behavior in the natural environment in which the phenomenon studied occurred.Secondly, because qualitative studies focus on people, namely on that which makes them have recourse to the care and personal experiences that have an impact on their health status. The essence of qualitative investigation focuses on the search for significance, to the extent that the phenomena, manifestations, occurrences, facts, events, thoughts, feelings and subjects are all formative aspects of human experience. The meanings that are lasting also become culturally shared and are incorporated as a structuring element of the social group that orbits around these representations and symbolisms.Knowing the significance of the health-illness phenomena can contribute greatly to enhance the quality of the relationship between consumers and healthcare providers; foster greater adherence to health measures individually and collectively; and acquire a more profound understanding of the emotions and behavior of patients, families and health professionals. Undoubtedly, health is of the people, for the people and by...

Promoção da alimentação saudável na infância: fragilidades no contexto da Atenção Básica

“…Buscando responder à demanda crescente pela avaliação de programas e reconhecendo a realidade nacional brasileira de subnotificação e limitação de dados em sistemas de informação oficiais, foi objetivo deste estudo investigar as fragilidades do processo de implementação de programas de promoção da alimentação saudável na infância, na perspectiva dos profissionais da Atenção Básica. Assumindo também a impossibilidade de separação dos fenômenos sociais de seus contextos 15 , utilizou-se a pesquisa qualitativa como meio de dar voz a atores significantes, mas usualmente silenciados, visando auxiliar o direcionamento de estratégias de saúde.…”

Contexts of qualitative research in health

“…In other words, the inseparability of the phenomena of their context is recognized as it is not possible to analyze individuals' perceptions and meanings, silencing the context (3) . The context must be seen as something fluid, as a non-static set of influential circumstances (4) , of variables that, in a cycle, reorganize themselves before the variability of the context, which in turn reacts to the variables it influences in an action-reaction-reaction sequence.…”

Promover a saúde no novo paradigma

“…Mais uma vez exprime, inequivocamente, que a promoção de saúde é um campo vasto de estudo, cuja pluralidade explica a diversidade dos problemas, questões de investigação e opções metodológicas. Destaca-se a natureza qualitativa comum aos artigos que constam desta edição, uma abordagem cada vez mais presente na investigação na área da saúde, uma vez que contactar com as diferentes perspetivas e significações dos fenómenos do processo saúde-doença contribui efetivamente para a promoção da saúde, promovendo uma maior adesão em ações de saúde implementadas individual e coletivamente, através de respostas ajustadas a recetores e prestadores de serviços de saúde (7) .…”