Interviews are among the most familiar strategies for collecting qualitative data. The different qualitative interviewing approaches and in common usage, emerged from diverse disciplinary perspectives resulting in a wide variation among interviewing approaches (Dicicco-Bloom, B., & Crabtree, 2006). There is an important research article that seeks to compare two different qualitative methods to research. This research study differentiated the two approaches in carrying out focus groups and individuals’ interviews — an open approach, and a method based on the International Classification of functioning, Disability and Health (ICF-DH) (Coenen, Stamm, Stucki & Cieza, 2012). In the comparison of two qualitative methods, patients with rheumatoid arthritis were said to attend focus groups (n = 49) and individual interviews (n = 21). Secondly, other factors of analysis such as, time, number of concepts, ICF categories identified, sample size for reaching saturation of data, descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and independent t-tests were compared and performed (Coenen, Stamm, Stucki & Cieza, 2012). According to the authors’ findings and analysis, the method of approach should mainly rely on the objective of the study intention; issues pertaining to the situation of health; and the study participants. However, their recommendation of undertaking focus group is more favorable in a situation that aim to explore patients perspective (Coenen, Stamm, Stucki & Cieza, 2012). One of the important criteria in a focus group session is to be clear on the population sample (Laureate Education, 2016). Safety-Net clinics have long played the role as gap fillers in providing health services to the low-income individuals and families. There will continue to be a need for such alternative care, and to assert this role even in the aftermath of any health transformation. For example, the large number of inactive patient database in Kansas City Care Clinic, a safety net clinic, penciled my interest into understanding perspectives of inactive patients.
References
Coenen, M., Stamm, T. A., Stucki, G., & Cieza, A. (2012). Individual interviews and focus groups in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A comparison of two qualitative methods. Quality of Life Research, 21(2), 359-70. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-9943-2.
Dicicco-Bloom, B., & Crabtree, B. F. (2006). The qualitative research interview. Medical Education, 40(4), 314-321.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2016). How to plan and conduct a focus group [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
