The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7443 p312-314
17 March 2007

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An overview of qualitative research

In this article (part 1 of two), Therése Kairuz, Keith Crump and Anthony O’Brien provide an overview of qualitative practice research in pharmacy

Qualitative research series

SUMMARY

Pharmacy practice research has been defined as the rationale, scope, efficiency and effectiveness of pharmacy practice. It was described in 1991 as a “new and rapidly expanding area of research” which includes a wide diversity of topics such as research into health services, patient populations, service providers and pharmacists.

Contributions to the field of pharmacy practice include findings from academics, pharmacy practitioners and pharmacy students, and this article will introduce the reader to aspects of qualitative research, with the aim of stimulating interest in the use of this methodology. Part 1 provides a brief overview of qualitative research for pharmacists and part 2 provides practical advice on the collection of data using focus groups or in-depth interviews and suggestions regarding data analysis. The reader is encouraged to obtain additional information from the references listed in the bibliography.

Academics from sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, history and statistics have addressed questions regarding health, pharmacy and drug use. The use of drugs and health services may be determined quantitatively using techniques such as drug utilisation studies or survey methodology, where findings are expressed in numbers or percentages. Quantitative studies can answer questions related to “what” is happening. On the other hand it may be important to explore “why” it is happening. Qualitative research is often exploratory and can be used to generate hypotheses, whereas quantitative studies are designed to test them.

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