Online focus groups as a tool to collect data in hard-to-include populations: examples from paediatric oncology

Kiek Tates; Marieke Zwaanswijk; Roel Otten; Sandra van Dulmen; Peter M. Hoogerbrugge; Willem A. Kamps; Jozien M. Bensing

doi:10.1186/1471-2288-9-15

Online focus groups as a tool to collect data in hard-to-include populations: examples from paediatric oncology

Kiek Tates^*, Marieke Zwaanswijk, Roel Otten, Sandra van Dulmen, Peter M. Hoogerbrugge, Willem A. Kamps, Jozien M. Bensing

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Background: The purpose of this article is to describe and evaluate the methodology of online focus group discussions within the setting of paediatric oncology.

Methods: Qualitative study consisting of separate moderated asynchronous online discussion groups with 7 paediatric cancer patients (aged 8-17), 11 parents, and 18 survivors of childhood cancer (aged 8-17 at diagnosis).

Results: All three participant groups could be actively engaged over a one-week period. Respondents highly valued the flexibility and convenience of logging in at their own time and place to join the discussion. Adolescent patients and survivors emphasized that the anonymity experienced made them feel comfortable to express their views in detail. The findings indicate a strong preference for online group discussions across all participant groups.

Conclusion: The findings show that online focus group methodology is a feasible tool for collecting qualitative data within the setting of paediatric oncology, and may offer new opportunities to collect data in other hard-to-include populations. The evaluations seem to indicate that the online group discussions have given participants an opportunity to articulate their experiences and views in a way they might not have done in a traditional group discussion.

Original language	English
Article number	15
Number of pages	8
Journal	BMC Medical Research Methodology
Volume	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-9-15
Publication status	Published - 3-Mar-2009

Keywords

COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION
SIOP WORKING COMMITTEE
DECISION-MAKING
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES
HEALTH RESEARCH
CARE RESEARCH
INTERNET
FACE
DISCLOSURE

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Online focus groups as a tool to collect data in hard-to-include populationsFinal publisher's version, 338 KBLicence: CC BY

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@article{eb27a25cdd694c9198f6faae41e40837,

title = "Online focus groups as a tool to collect data in hard-to-include populations: examples from paediatric oncology",

abstract = "Background: The purpose of this article is to describe and evaluate the methodology of online focus group discussions within the setting of paediatric oncology.Methods: Qualitative study consisting of separate moderated asynchronous online discussion groups with 7 paediatric cancer patients (aged 8-17), 11 parents, and 18 survivors of childhood cancer (aged 8-17 at diagnosis).Results: All three participant groups could be actively engaged over a one-week period. Respondents highly valued the flexibility and convenience of logging in at their own time and place to join the discussion. Adolescent patients and survivors emphasized that the anonymity experienced made them feel comfortable to express their views in detail. The findings indicate a strong preference for online group discussions across all participant groups.Conclusion: The findings show that online focus group methodology is a feasible tool for collecting qualitative data within the setting of paediatric oncology, and may offer new opportunities to collect data in other hard-to-include populations. The evaluations seem to indicate that the online group discussions have given participants an opportunity to articulate their experiences and views in a way they might not have done in a traditional group discussion.",

keywords = "COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION, SIOP WORKING COMMITTEE, DECISION-MAKING, QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES, HEALTH RESEARCH, CARE RESEARCH, INTERNET, FACE, DISCLOSURE",

author = "Kiek Tates and Marieke Zwaanswijk and Roel Otten and {van Dulmen}, Sandra and Hoogerbrugge, {Peter M.} and Kamps, {Willem A.} and Bensing, {Jozien M.}",

year = "2009",

month = mar,

day = "3",

doi = "10.1186/1471-2288-9-15",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

journal = "BMC Medical Research Methodology",

issn = "1471-2288",

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T1 - Online focus groups as a tool to collect data in hard-to-include populations

T2 - examples from paediatric oncology

AU - Tates, Kiek

AU - Zwaanswijk, Marieke

AU - Otten, Roel

AU - van Dulmen, Sandra

AU - Hoogerbrugge, Peter M.

AU - Kamps, Willem A.

AU - Bensing, Jozien M.

PY - 2009/3/3

Y1 - 2009/3/3

N2 - Background: The purpose of this article is to describe and evaluate the methodology of online focus group discussions within the setting of paediatric oncology.Methods: Qualitative study consisting of separate moderated asynchronous online discussion groups with 7 paediatric cancer patients (aged 8-17), 11 parents, and 18 survivors of childhood cancer (aged 8-17 at diagnosis).Results: All three participant groups could be actively engaged over a one-week period. Respondents highly valued the flexibility and convenience of logging in at their own time and place to join the discussion. Adolescent patients and survivors emphasized that the anonymity experienced made them feel comfortable to express their views in detail. The findings indicate a strong preference for online group discussions across all participant groups.Conclusion: The findings show that online focus group methodology is a feasible tool for collecting qualitative data within the setting of paediatric oncology, and may offer new opportunities to collect data in other hard-to-include populations. The evaluations seem to indicate that the online group discussions have given participants an opportunity to articulate their experiences and views in a way they might not have done in a traditional group discussion.

AB - Background: The purpose of this article is to describe and evaluate the methodology of online focus group discussions within the setting of paediatric oncology.Methods: Qualitative study consisting of separate moderated asynchronous online discussion groups with 7 paediatric cancer patients (aged 8-17), 11 parents, and 18 survivors of childhood cancer (aged 8-17 at diagnosis).Results: All three participant groups could be actively engaged over a one-week period. Respondents highly valued the flexibility and convenience of logging in at their own time and place to join the discussion. Adolescent patients and survivors emphasized that the anonymity experienced made them feel comfortable to express their views in detail. The findings indicate a strong preference for online group discussions across all participant groups.Conclusion: The findings show that online focus group methodology is a feasible tool for collecting qualitative data within the setting of paediatric oncology, and may offer new opportunities to collect data in other hard-to-include populations. The evaluations seem to indicate that the online group discussions have given participants an opportunity to articulate their experiences and views in a way they might not have done in a traditional group discussion.

KW - COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION

KW - SIOP WORKING COMMITTEE

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KW - QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

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KW - HEALTH RESEARCH

KW - CARE RESEARCH

KW - INTERNET

KW - FACE

KW - DISCLOSURE

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DO - 10.1186/1471-2288-9-15

M3 - Article

SN - 1471-2288

VL - 9

JO - BMC Medical Research Methodology

JF - BMC Medical Research Methodology

M1 - 15

ER -

Online focus groups as a tool to collect data in hard-to-include populations: examples from paediatric oncology

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