title: Collecting and validating experiential expertise is doable but poses methodological challenges.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To give an overview of important methodological challenges in collecting, validating, and further processing experiential expertise and how to address these challenges.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on our own experiences in studying the concept, operationalization, and contents of experiential expertise, we have formulated methodological issues regarding the inventory and application of experiential expertise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methodological challenges can be categorized in six developmental research stages, comprising the conceptualization of experiential expertise, methods to harvest experiential expertise, the validation of experiential expertise, evaluation of the effectiveness, how to translate experiential expertise into acceptable guidelines, and how to implement these. The description of methodological challenges and ways to handle those are illustrated using diabetes mellitus as an example.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experiential expertise can be defined and operationalized in terms of successful illness-related behaviors and translated into recommendations regarding life domains. Pathways have been identified to bridge the gaps between the world of patients' daily lives and the medical world.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, School CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marika H F
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Burda
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, School CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of General Practice, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33 blok J-bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Marjan.vandenAkker@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van den Akker
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, School CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van der Horst
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education, School CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lemmens
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, School CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J André
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Knottnerus
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010379:Peer Group; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Chronic disease; Diabetes mellitus; Experiential expertise; Methodology; Patient knowledge; Qualitative research