title: Researcher perspectives from a study of women's experiences of breastfeeding.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diaries are growing in popularity in healthcare, and are useful for obtaining a more profound understanding of participants' experiences. However, they are not widely used by nurses and social scientists to collect data for research and few studies have used participant diaries to explore women's experiences of breastfeeding infants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To consider the use of diaries as a qualitative healthcare research method, describe the challenges that using diaries may present for healthcare researchers and relate this to a recent study of participants' experiences of breastfeeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diaries in this study were unstructured, narrative accounts. Using solicited unstructured diaries was a valid and useful tool for capturing the phenomena of the early stages of breastfeeding. It has relevance for healthcare research interested in capturing real-life experiences. To achieve compliance, attention needs to be paid to diary management, including diary structure, format and support for participants throughout the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research diaries are a valid and useful tool for collecting data involving complex and often sensitive healthcare issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Research diaries are complementary to interviews, but need careful management to provide a truly unique insight into the phenomena being studied.
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hinsliff-Smith
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, UK.
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D055991:Health Records, Personal; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: breastfeeding; data collection; innovative methods; participants’ experiences; qualitative research; research diaries