Focus Group Interview: An Underutilized Research Technique for Improving Theory and Practice in Health Education

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to increase awareness about and stimulate interest in using focus group interviews, a qualitative research technique, to advance the state-of- the-art of education and learning about health. After a brief discussion of small group process in health education, features of focus group interviews are presented, and a theoretical framework for planning a focus group study is summarized. Then, litera ture describing traditional and health-related applications of focus group interviews is reviewed and a synthesis of methodological limitations and advantages of this tech nique is presented. Implications are discussed regarding: need for more inductive qualitative research in health education; utility of focus group interviews for research and for formative and summative evaluation of health education programs; appli cability of marketing research to understanding and influencing consumer behav ior, despite notable distinctions between educational initiatives and marketing; and need for professional preparation faculty to consider increasing emphasis on qualita tive research methods.