Others who may help you are social care professionals, such as social workers, arranged through your local council. This research group is led by Professors Sykes and Whittaker has a broad and integrated programme of research that is responsive to local needs, addressing issues concerned with the health and wellbeing status and behaviour . 7 min read. Objectives Older informal carers play an increasingly important role in supporting others with long-term health conditions. Advantages of using an online focus group. There are many benefits of using technology in healthcare, including: Giving the service users more control over their own health, safety and wellbeing. Focus groups last between 1-2 hours and are a useful method for gathering rich, insightful information to inform future . Abstract The Focus Group ( FG) has been actually employed by marketing, and is becoming importanct also in other areas; such as, education, health, management, decision-making, and information . Over the last twenty years, the reification of text-based methods in sociological research has been questioned and the use of graphic elicitation (drawings and diagrams) has emerged as a data collection technique in social research literature. Typically skill building groups have 10-12 sessions and educational groups tend to be shorter-from 3-5 sessions. Health researchers pioneered the use of focus groups in social action research, particularly family planning and preventive health education (e.g. Engagement. Advantages Allows for in-depth discussion Allows ideas to be explored more than individual surveys and questionnaires A good platform for diversity Description: A focus group is useful in analysing a topic or getting an opinion on a . Co-workers and friends are more comfortable in voicing views in each other's company than on their own with the researcher. This paper introduces focus group methodology, gives advice on group composition, running the groups, and analysing the results. There is no optimum number as the size of the group depends upon the purpose of the study and the type of questions asked. With a joined-up approach to connecting people, data, and the services they require, we put the needs of the individual at the centre of everything we do. It provides a diverse set of responses based on interviewee profiles. The advantages of focus groups 1. In the marketing, focus groups are seen as an important tool for acquiring feedback. Most market research institutes have indeed removed the costly . The focus group (FG) technique has been recently rediscovered by social scientists. Focus groups are particularly useful when there are power differences between the participants and decision-makers or professionals, when the everyday use of language and culture of particular groups is of interest, and when one wants to explore the degree of consensus on a given topic (9). The objective is to give the researcher an understanding of the participants' perspective on the topic in discussion. The definition adopted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence sets out a number of factors that can define a community as they relate to the experience of health, including geographical location, race, age, faith, or health need.. The most important disadvantage of health care is that by applying the health care plan person ignore the importance of doctors and physicians. The Group is made up of two representatives from each of the eight forums that belong to ESSA. Health and social care workers are a group of the workforce who dedicate their working lives to helping people in the community who are at-risk, unwell or have certain medical needs. It has become the subject of important methodological discussions and it is now considered a very innovative research method. Disadvantages Transcription and analysis can be time consuming. Focus. To be able to organise a conversation and keep it going, to draw out all the information they need from a service user as they can come across barriers. Instead of being an interviewer, the researcher operates in the role of moderator or facilitator of a discussion. Crucially, where this differs from research conducted through surveys or phone interviews is that you're not only getting a person's opinions, but their reactions, too. It provides an increased reach. The set comes together to discuss a predetermined topic. They often work alongside 'allied' health professionals, such as occupational therapists. sex, race and age. Helping communication with families, professionals and staff. The increased support for social care providers to move towards having a . Strong group leadership is required to maintain group focus and control. The Health and Community Care Theme Group was established with the essential aim of seeking to improve the quality of life for older people in East Sussex in relation to Health and Adult Social Care matters. importantly, focus groups offer a more concrete opportunity for participants and researchers to learn from the process, being a powerful way of engaging with professionals, policy makers, and end-users (ie, students). Focus groups can help researchers understand more about a specific population group. Main advantages for Zazen by choosing this tool are: More accurate information (Opinions or ideas can be refined by the group). Focus groups are flexible, while providing a broad and in-depth view of the subject matter according to the participants. Good health and effective medical care are essential for the smooth functioning of society. Watch this video to find out more about how . the use of online focus groups can provide a comfortable environment where participants can provide their opinions, minimizing the chances of external factors influencing them, as they are likely to be more comfortable in their home surroundings.participants can provide their input and describe what they like/don't like when pictures and media Being able to communicate effectively is a skill that has a range of benefits, perhaps most importantly that it helps you to deliver person-centred, high-quality care. Design Qualitative with four focus . The challenge of geographical distance is eliminated as the tool provides a global reach unlike the traditional face to face focus groups. However, such a widespread use of FG seems to have become a fashionable research technique. Problems arise when attempting to identify the individual view from the group view, as well as in the practical arrangements for conducting focus groups. You might also see other staff from a private business, or a voluntary organisation like Alzheimer's Society or Age UK, such as a . A lack of services was revealed in all types of focus groups but was more deeply discussed by informal carers and health and social care professionals, particularly in the focus groups in DE, IE, NL, UK, PT and NO. As they are so small, they may not be generalisable or representative. In contrast to one-on-one interviews that are also widely used in qualitative research, the source of the data . 1.4 Six focus groups were undertaken. This means it becomes possible to screen more people so that the critical factors being researched can be examined without the same levels of restriction. Prior to performing a focus group interview a novice must first search the literature to gain an understanding of the function, uses, preparation, conduct and analysis of this form of methodology. This dynamics will not be captured in a face-to-face interview. When discussing the advantages and disadvantages of teamwork in health care, there are few downsides. The affinity of the visual with the dynamics of social life has been recognized in anthropological research practice for more than a century. Using non-verbal communication is key. Capturing and comparing data, as well as sharing good practice with peers. To obtain further information, we conducted searches . In the specific context of health and care . This is defined as coordination of various primary health care components into a whole gramme and made available at all times including referrals. It ensures bye pass phenomenon. Activities highlighted as having a positive effect on the welfare of residents include board games, communal cafe areas, cooking classes and gardening. Focus groups are rapidly gaining popularity in health and medical research. Less time intensive than interviews and allows the individuals to express ideas more freely and in a much more open-ended format than a survey. This can uncover perspectives and ideas that may not surface by speaking with patients individually. Based on personal research experience and a review of scientific publications in the Google Scholar . List of the Advantages of Focus Groups 1. The benefits of focus group research include gaining insights into people's shared understandings of everyday life and the ways in which individuals are influenced by others in a group situation. Focus groups are economical and can stimulate discussion of. It ensures efficient use of all resources and removes areas of wastage, [it ensures sustainability of programme. In that long time, individuals' nonverbal gestures can get misinterpreted by the mediator for the other partakers in the group, which can trigger a misunderstood narrative. There is the ethical issue of no confidentiality or anonymity as personal details are open to the entire group. A focus group is a form of qualitative research, usually involving 6-8 respondents. A focus group helps researchers understand the perspectives that a particular demographic has regarding a specific philosophy, belief, or awareness of products, ideas, or political concepts. Benefits . List of the Advantages of Focus Groups 1. However, such a widespread use of FG seems to have become a fashionable research technique. Can be used as a first step to identify potential problem areas allowing a more in-depth analysis to be planned. What is more, individuals are more likely to provide candid responses. Have good listening skills so they can check understanding with the person. It has become the subject of important methodological discussions and it is now considered a very innovative research method. Participants can interact on a real-time basis irrespective of location. Following are the main advantages of focus group discussion in research: It is an inexpensive and fast method of acquiring valuable data. Teamwork leads to better patient outcomes. It also creates a greater sense of satisfaction among the staff. The criteria used to reduce the number of empirical articles for inclusion in the review were (1) the abstract indicated that focus groups had been one of the primary methods of empirical data collection, (2) children under 18 years were one of the main target groups of the research, and (3) the research was related to pediatric health care. You can recruit people based on certain discriminating criteria e.g. Population Health and Prevention is a group that recognises the strength of our work in health promotion and social care. The format of a focus group session can be replicated to some extent and can therefore be taken around various geographical regions to provide high numbers of participants and a good spread of demographics. The advantages of this method are that it is easily understood, reflects cultural differences and has a high face validity by providing convincing findings. Advantages of Focus Groups Interaction is easier in a small group between participants. Table 13.1 "Theory Snapshot" summarizes what they say. (Daft, 2015) These kinds of strategic aspects in respect of collaborative communication do the enhancement of healthcare management through the encouragement of dialogue amongst various stakeholders, sharing informations, as well as minimizing the complexity level within the health and social care organizations. There are several advantages of using an online focus group. The impression is that FG is often . Needed but lacking services were, for example, post-diagnostic support, night care, 24-h care on weekends, respite care at home or services for people with early onset dementia . A community is a group of people joined together by a common interest, characteristics or experience. He thinks that his health care plan is perfect and ideal and he doesn't need any doctor assistance. The author proposes that focus groups are more beneficial to healthcare research than other methods of research, and also gives the audience an understanding of what a focus group is and how it is conducted. Communication plays an instrumental role in health and social care and is a core aspect of your working relationships. In addition focus groups may be less expensive than interviews, provided the analytical treatment remains light. Stimulation of new ideas, flexibility in the questions asked, and enhanced opinions are among the many advantages of conducting qualitative research. In . Focus groups use group dynamics to get shared experiences of people with similar characteristics. Focus group advantages and disadvantages, A two-hour-long discussion demands a lot of attention on the new idea, which can have multiple aspects. Focus groups are quick and relatively inexpensive to administer, and can offer richer and more in-depth responses than quantitative surveys. Focus groups have advantages for researchers in the field of health and medicine: they do not discriminate against people who cannot read or write and they can encourage participation from people reluctant to be interviewed on their own or who feel they have nothing . The Group has its own agreed constitution. Focus groups are especially useful for exploring the attitudes and experiences . Folch-Lyon, de la Macorra, & Schearer, 1981; Schearer, 1981; Suyono, Piet, Stirling, & Ross, 1981), and research on health-related topics continues to be a major area of focus group research today. Focus groups are often used when deciding on the look and feel of a website or product. A focus group is a part of marketing research technique. The important health care disadvantages are as follows: Advertisement. With focus groups, organizations have the opportunity to observe the group discussion from behind a one-way mirror. Focus Group: A focus group is a small set of six to ten people who usually share common characteristics such as age, background, geography, etc.. 2. 1.5 Focus groups were selected as they are particularly useful for in depth exploration of perceptions, attitudes, feelings and opinions. The impression is that FG is often adopted without any prior consideration of whether it . There may be times the service user struggles verbally. As a qualitative data collection technique, the focus group has advantages over other qualitative methods, such as the in-depth interview and the nominal group technique. The impression is that FG is often adopted without any prior consideration of whether it . ADVANTAGES. Patients must perform the "sick role" in order to be perceived as legitimately ill and to be exempt from their normal obligations. The purpose is to induce conversation between participants to answer questions relevant to the study goals. Focus groups encourage patients to share views, bounce ideas off each other and engage in constructive debate. Much of this research, however, has been conducted . The aim was to explore service providers' views on the social care commissioning process. Access Health, Support and Care (HSC) Access is a leading provider of software for health, local government, and care organisations across the UK. Using focus groups to gather patient insight Focus groups are great when you want to explore more complicated or sensitive topics. Focus groups, unlike interviews, involve small groups of people, usually between 8 and 20 people. This is different from an interview study, where the focus is on individuals. Focus groups are a research method using multi-person interviews to generate qualitative data from participants' interaction. This study aimed to explore in depth the perspectives of older carers (70+ years) supporting others with a variety of conditions and disabilities focusing on their thoughts and experiences about when they are unable to continue caring. However, such a widespread use of FG seems to have become a fashionable research technique. For these reasons, it is important to make sure that the participants have a specific experience/opinion . Leaders must be well-prepared ahead of time with content developed in advance, and also be skilled in facilitating group processes. 45 furthermore, participants' views and understandings are shared, debated, challenged, and changed during the focus group Digitising social care records is a key step towards achieving an integrated shared care record (ShCR) across both health and social care. Advantages of focus groups Focus groups provide a valuable method to gather customer feedback and opinion on different ideas and concepts. Where can I go to learn more? This offers a number of advantages, not least that they can hear and see the research first hand and the data is not diluted or misrepresented in a report. The group is classed as focus as they do an activity together, such as discuss issues or read a magazine for example. Focus groups are indeed the best way to exchange viewpoints and discuss disagreements between consumers. Focus groups can also incorporate a variety of other participation tools such as participatory mapping, emotional touchpoints and dot voting. They gather useful data on emotive issues as people are quite willing to give their opinions and impressions of items. Health research funding is increasingly competitive, recruiting health-care professionals to participate in qualitative health research is challenging due to increasing busyness in clinical environments, vast geographical distances between research sites hinder . The main characteristic of a focus group is the interaction between the moderator and the group, as well as the interaction between group members. Abstract. This paper highlights these advantages after providing guidelines on group composition, the management of group discussion and the process of analysing results. Abstract The focus group (FG) technique has been recently rediscovered by social scientists. By guiding the conversation with follow up questions, a mediator can hone . Activities such as these can help to keep residents active, while at the same time combating loneliness by making them feel appreciated, involved and part of a 'team'. They are recruited to participate in a discussion to understand their opinions and attitudes towards particular products or services. Focus group interviewing is becoming a popular research method among nurses as well as allied health professionals. This chapter defines focus groups and discusses how to use them in research. In health care settings that increasingly stress the need for a patient-centred approach to research, they are a fruitful way to gather the views and experiences of groups of patients and service users that offers them more control of the interaction. The focus group (FG) technique has been recently rediscovered by social scientists. It may be hard to organise a focus group, especially for hard to reach groups such as travellers. Evaluation in these groups tends to examine acquisition of knowledge and/or skills. 2.0 Advantages of focus group research. Focus groups can attract people today from all over the world. Measure reactions, not just opinions A key advantage of focus groups is that they take place face-to-face. It has become the subject of important methodological discussions and it is now considered a very innovative research method. 3. As can be inferred from the above description, the focus group format has several advantages: it is relatively inexpensive. However, they will still need to pay for their care and. Focus groups also allow peers to come together and share ideas and experiences. It makes it less likely that people who are uncertain about the system or lack confidence to arrange their care do not go without. They can even be conducted online under certain circumstances. This can be anyone from entire families to individuals, the young to the elderly, and even the seriously ill. As someone who works in health and social care, it . A brief sum- mary of advantages and disadvantages of these methods illustrating the importance of this choice is shown in Table 2. This is something we strongly support as outcomes for people are greatly improved if we all have the right information at the right time and can share one version of the truth. 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