Research Techniques Made Simple: An Introduction to Qualitative Research

Qualitative research has gained increasing prominence in health-related research and is experiencing greater use in dermatology. A major strength of and reason to perform qualitative research is that it allows one to gain an understanding of the insider (e.g., patient, medical provider, other players in the healthcare system) perspectives on health and insights about their behaviors, motivations, and expectations. This is particularly important in the field of dermatology where most diseases are, fortunately, not directly fatal but have major effects on affected individuals' lives in ways that are often not readily quantifiable. As such, it is important for dermatologists, both researchers and clinicians, to understand the basic tenets of qualitative methodology to properly utilize qualitative methods, evaluate the qualitative literature, and identify relevant findings to apply to clinical practice. In this article, we provide an overview of qualitative research and some of the more commonly used qualitative methods with an aim to increase awareness and appreciation of the power of qualitative studies.