The appropriateness and use of focus group methodology across international mental health communities.
The ability to interpret collected data across international mental health communities often proves to be difficult. The following paper reports on the use and appropriateness of focus group methodology in helping to clarify issues that could help substantiate data collection and comparison across different cultures and regions. Field tests of the focus group methodology were undertaken in different regions and this paper describes an overview of the final field test in Sofia, Bulgaria. The findings and experiences with utilizing this methodology were incorporated in subsequent data collections.
Consortium Center for Public Mental Health, Maastricht, The Netherlands. kschilder@ccpmh.net
Klaas
K
Schilder
Toma
T
Tomov
M
M
Mladenova
John
J
Mayeya
Rachel
R
Jenkins
Walter
W
Gulbinat
Ron
R
Manderscheid
Florence
F
Baingana
Harvey
H
Whiteford
Sudhir
S
Khandelval
Alberto
A
Minoletti
Malik H
MH
Mubbashar
R
R
Srinivasa Murthy
M
M
Parameshvara Deva
Aliko
A
Baba
Clare
C
Townsend
T
T
Sakuta
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002031:Bulgaria; D003256:Community Participation; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods*; D014943:Global Health; D006126:Group Processes; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012737:Sex Factors; D012941:Social Responsibility