https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2021.9821
Using observation to better understand the healthcare context
Submitted: 20 April 2021
Accepted: 11 January 2022
Published: 31 January 2022
Accepted: 11 January 2022
Abstract Views: 4440
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
Despite potential to capture rich contextual information, observation remains an underutilized data collection method. This paper provides a practical guide for using observation to understand complex issues in healthcare settings. Observation is a qualitative data collection method comprised of viewing and documenting phenomena in the usual environment. Drawing on our recent work using observation to better understand personal protective equipment use among healthcare personnel, we describe when to consider collecting data via observation, how to prepare and perform observation, and how to analyze resulting data. Observation data are documented in field notes that contain detailed information about setting, participants, and activity associated with the topic of interest. Field notes can be analyzed alone or triangulated with other types of data using theoretical or conceptual frameworks or by identifying themes. Observation is a valuable data collection method for health services researchers to identify key components involved in a topic of interest, a vital step in forming relevant questions, measuring appropriate variables, and designing effective interventions. Used with other methods or alone, observation yields the detailed data needed to address context-specific factors across a wide range of healthcare research topics and settings.
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How to Cite
Weston, Lauren E., Sarah Krein, and Molly Harrod. 2022. “Using Observation to Better Understand the Healthcare Context”. Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare 5 (3). https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2021.9821.
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