title: [Qualitative research: a valid alternative].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the main qualitative research techniques through systematic review of Spanish studies published during the previous 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Indice Médico Español (bibliographic database of items published in Spanish health sciences journals) was searched, and systematic searches of the journals Atención Primaria, Gaceta Sanitaria, and Revista de Calidad Asistencial were done. Study selection. We included studies carried out with any type of qualitative research technique. Also included were studies that reviewed qualitative research techniques. We excluded studies that used a qualitative technique but were based mainly on quantitative research techniques. The review was done during the period from April 1997 to April 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the studies we reviewed used only one technique (80.5%). When more than one technique was used in combination (19.5% of the articles we reviewed), focus groups and interviews were usually used. The techniques identified were focus group (used in 34% of the articles reviewed), interview (24%), the Delphi technique (10%), content analysis (8%), nominal group (8%), metaplan (2%), and Philips 6/6 (2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Qualitative research is a valid alternative, and if used with appropriate methodological rigor it can be of considerable use to health care professionals.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Alicante, Spain. jose.mira@umh.es
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mira
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pérez-Jover
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aranaz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vitaller
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013030:Spain
vernacular_title: La investigación cualitativa: una alternativa también válida.