Qualitative Research

Qualitative research is becoming more prominent in medicine and health care. 

Qualitative research is basically the gathering of data through non-numerical information which investigates the "why" and "how" of a certain topic.  This research can be conducted through many methods such as observation, focus groups, and discussions.  

Physicians and clinical and health services researchers may be unfamiliar with qualitative research and unsure how it relates to their interests. The evidence-based medicine movement has taught that clinical practice and health policy should be based on critical review of the best available evidence. To appreciate the evidence supplied by qualitative research, one must be able to address the general question: What are the goals of qualitative research? Principles of evidence-based medicine and behavioral sciences that further suggest that to review any study critically, one must be able to answer several more specific questions: Is the design of the study appropriate to its goals? How valid are its results? How well do they apply to one's practice or circumstances?

Unfortunately, the discussion of qualitative research in the medical field provides no easy answers to any of these questions. Rather, it reveals the controversy about how qualitative research can address clinical questions. An article  titled "Understanding the Patient's Needs and Experiences" discusses the qualitative approached in conducting qualitative research on a patient.

Clinical experience, based on personal observation, reflection, and judgment, seems to be needed in order to translate scientific results into treatment of individual patients.  Personal experience is often characterized as being anecdotal and a poor basis for making scientific decisions.  After learning about qualitative research in class I now realize how much qualitative research is done that I have not realized and that in the medical field it is a more powerful persuader to the scientist in changing clinical practice than a scientific publication or article itself.