title: The Value of Qualitative Description in Health Services and Policy Research.
abstract: Health services and policy (HSP) researchers have long used qualitative research methodologies to explore health system issues. However, the appropriateness of one approach, qualitative description, for HSP research is still often overlooked. In this article, I discuss the role that qualitative description can play in HSP research, and argue for its greater acceptance as a valid form of academic scholarship.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Division of Pediatrics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chafe
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design