Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Necessity and Characteristics

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative research explore various social phenomena using different methods. However, there has been a tendency to treat quantitative studies using complicated statistical techniques as more scientific and superior, whereas relatively few qualitative studies have been conducted in the medical and healthcare fields. This review aimed to provide a proper understanding of qualitative research. This review examined the characteristics of quantitative and qualitative research to help researchers select the appropriate qualitative research methodology. Qualitative research is applicable in following cases: (1) when an exploratory approach is required on a topic that is not well known, (2) when something cannot be explained fully with quantitative research, (3) when it is necessary to newly present a specific view on a research topic that is difficult to explain with existing views, (4) when it is inappropriate to present the rationale or theoretical proposition for designing hypotheses, as in quantitative research, and (5) when conducting research that requires detailed descriptive writing with literary expressions. Qualitative research is conducted in the following order: (1) selection of a research topic and question, (2) selection of a theoretical framework and methods, (3) literature analysis, (4) selection of the research participants and data collection methods, (5) data analysis and description of findings, and (6) research validation. This review can contribute to the more active use of qualitative research in healthcare, and the findings are expected to instill a proper understanding of qualitative research in researchers who review qualitative research reports and papers.

‘How is our job affecting us?’ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit healthcare providers and their pregnancy: A descriptive qualitative study

“…This research design was appropriate to achieve the aims of this study for several reasons as there is little knowledge about HCPs' experiences of pregnancy in the NICU (Pyo et al, 2023). It also allowed for an accurate and comprehensive description of participants' perspectives by explaining how and what they thought, felt and experienced when they were pregnant or wished to have a child so that their perspectives on this particular issue could be understood and their voices heard (Bradshaw et al, 2017; Pyo et al, 2023). Findings are reported according to the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (Tong et al, 2007) (Supplementary File 1).…”

Author Response: Students’ Positive Coping Strategies From Disaster: A Narrative Analysis

“…We woud like to thank the authors for their interest in the two articles introducing the methodology of qualitative research: "Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Necessity and Characteristics" and "Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Data Analysis" [1,2]. The first article, "Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Necessity and Characteristics, " introduces the characteristics of qualitative research as opposed to quantitative research, and especially emphasizes when qualitative research is useful [1].…”

Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Data Analysis

“…In our previous review paper, we explored the characteristics of qualitative research in comparison to quantitative research and its usefulness in healthcare research [ 2 ]. Specifically, we conducted an in-depth review of the general qualitative research process, selection of research topics and problems, selection of theoretical frameworks and methods, literature analysis, and selection of research participants and data collection methods [ 2 ].…”

“…In our previous review paper, we explored the characteristics of qualitative research in comparison to quantitative research and its usefulness in healthcare research [ 2 ]. Specifically, we conducted an in-depth review of the general qualitative research process, selection of research topics and problems, selection of theoretical frameworks and methods, literature analysis, and selection of research participants and data collection methods [ 2 ]. This review article is dedicated to data analysis and the description of results, which may be considered the core of qualitative research, in different qualitative research methods in greater detail, along with the criteria for evaluating the validity of qualitative research.…”