There are different kinds of qualitative research methods. Soriano (2013) says the most common methods involve collecting research information using key informants, focus groups, interviews and secondary data. For purposes of addressing the questions raised in the vignette, focus groups emerge as the best qualitative research method. According to Stacciarini (2008), focus groups involve a detailed discussion of a public health issue among a group of individuals to understand their views and experiences of the same. The use of focus groups to gather qualitative data is a common practice in marketing and medical research (Stacciarini, 2008). To address the questions raised in the vignette, we would have only two focus groups. The first one would be comprised of Asians and the second one would comprise African-Americans. Focus groups would be instrumental to the researcher in understanding the attitudes, beliefs, feelings and experiences of the respondents towards the clinic, its staff and the services offered (Stacciarini, 2008). By using this method, the focus groups would help the researcher to get multiple views and emotions surrounding the research issue within a group setting. Indeed, qualitative research experts have affirmed that many respondents are likely to be forthcoming with information in a group setting (Stacciarini, 2008).
The success of getting quality information from focus groups depends on a researcher’s ability to create rapport with the subjects. There are different ways of doing so. Some of the common strategies, according to the South University (2014), involve communicating often and well with the respondents, expressing empathy, and projecting calmness. Maintaining regular and open communication with the respondents emerges as the best rapport-building strategy for answering the questions raised in the vignette. Doing so would help the researcher to build trust with the subjects. I would take extra effort to learn more about the cultures of the African-Americans and Asians to understand if any of their cultural practices could explain why they do not seek health services at the community health clinic. The process of establishing rapport would also involve understanding their hobbies, family settings, friends, and their daily activities because such information would help the researcher to understand their attitudes and behaviors towards public health. In line with this strategy, I would also establish rapport with the focus groups by communicating to the respondents about the nature of the health challenges plaguing them. Similarly, the strategy would involve listening to the concerns of the group members and asking questions, where appropriate, to clarify some of the research questions (South University, 2014). Comprehensively, by establishing rapport with the respondents, I would effectively use focus groups to collect quality information regarding the barriers that keep African-American and Asian groups from seeking health services at the community health clinic.
Rapport-enhancing behaviors involve activities that improve trust between patients and public health workers (Haider, 2005). For purposes of building and establishing rapport, I would ask open-ended questions to the respondents and allow them to talk uninterrupted. This strategy would give them an opportunity to speak freely and enlighten me about their motivations (or lack of) for seeking health services at the community health clinic (Haider, 2005). I would also use supportive statements during our interaction to encourage the respondents to speak freely. I hope they would understand that the purpose of sharing their views in the focus group is not to judge them, but to help them by improving their health choices.
References
Haider, M. (2005). Global Public Health Communication: Challenges, Perspectives, and Strategies. London, UK: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Soriano, F. I. (2013). Conducting needs assessments: A multidisciplinary approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
South University. (2014). 3 Ways to Build Rapport with Patients. Web.
Stacciarini, J.-M. R. (2008). Focus groups: Examining a community-based group intervention for depressed Puerto Rican women. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 29(7), 679–700.