Author(s): Ramos, Magda Cruz ; Brás, S. ; Oliveira, S. ; Eiras, Margarida
Date: 2024
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/17636
Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa
Subject(s): Radiotherapy; Radiation therapy; Methodological tool; Focus group
Morgan defines a focus group as “a research technique that collects data through group interaction on a topic determined by the researcher.” This definition provides the 3 major components of the focus group research: (1) A method devoted to data collection, (2) interaction as a source of data, and (3) the active role of the researcher in creating group discussion for data collection. This technique emerged as a qualitative data collection approach and a bridging strategy for scientific research and local knowledge. In this setting, the researcher facilitates or moderates a group discussion between participants and not between the researcher and the participants. The fact that the group process helps people to identify and clarify their views is an important advantage of focus groups compared with individual interviews. Is typically used in health care research to (1) develop or improve research instruments (eg, interview guides, questionnaires); (2) explore issues and generate data; and (3) evaluate and validate findings from other research methods (or triangulation). Focus group discussion is a technique in which a researcher gathers a group of individuals to discuss a specific topic. In this case, the participants will examine a prototype tool in radiation therapy, aiming to purposefully generate meaningful opinions, suggestions, and feedback. This study aims to present the focus group as a tool for use and multidisciplinary collaboration within a healthcare team, to outline the implementation steps in the specific case of developing a procedure/resource for subsequent application, and to assess the acceptance and feasibility of their implementation.
