Qualitative description - the poor cousin of health research?
BACKGROUND
The knowledge and use of qualitative description as a qualitative research approach in health services research is limited.The aim of this article is to discuss the potential benefits of a qualitative descriptive approach, to identify its strengths and weaknesses and to provide examples of use.


CONCLUSIONS
Qualitative description is a useful qualitative method in much medical research if you keep the limitations of the approach in mind. It is especially relevant in mixed method research, in questionnaire development and in research projects aiming to gain firsthand knowledge of patients', relatives' or professionals' experiences with a particular topic. Another great advantage of the method is that it is suitable if time or resources are limited.


CONCLUSIONS
As a consequence of the growth in qualitative research in the health sciences, researchers sometimes feel obliged to designate their work as phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography or a narrative study when in fact it is not. Qualitative description might be a useful alternative approach to consider.
Neergaard
Mette Asbjoern
MA
The Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark. man@alm.au.dk
Olesen
Frede
F
Andersen
Rikke Sand
RS
Sondergaard
Jens
J
D002983:Clinical Competence; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011594:Psychometrics; D011639:Public Opinion; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012107:Research Design; D012938:Social Perception