This study used a qualitative study by conducting semi-structured interviews by organizing small focus group interviews. The rationale for selecting this methodology, apart being the most commonly used method in healthcare research, it also allows participants the freedom and guidance of expressing their thoughts (Gill et al., 2008). The small group discussion, guided by the researcher, was expected to gather data on how healthcare workers stigmatize the key population, and what its negative impacts are.
Additionally, the research questions of “what” and “how” can best be answered by focus group interviews, using the semi-structured interviews, giving participants the flexibility to more express their experiences and beliefs. The strong side
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The role of the researcher was to guide the discussion by encouraging the participants to express their ideas and the shared perspectives (Jacobsen, 2014). A digital voice recording method was employed as a means of data collection. Participants were presented with stigma related semi-structured questions, such as: Do healthcare workers have a negative attitude towards Key Population? What is the health workers’ risk of contracting HIV at the workplace? How can they minimize this risk? How do service providers receive people coming for HIV prevention services? Additionally, probes were used for not adequately discussed or explained questions (Jacobsen, 2014).
Data Analysis
Jane and Zubin (2015) described a qualitative study as seeing the world through the eyes of another person and putting yourself in that person’s shoes. Being true to the participant is to be a priority in data analysis in qualitative studies. It is the opinion of the participants amplified by the researcher (Jane and Zubin, 2015).
The data collected from the small focus group discussions using of voice recording was transcribed, and data analysis was done through thematic synthesis method (Thomas & Harden, 2008). The transcriptions were coded, a process of labeling lines of text to enable the researcher with the aim of bringing similar ones together and grouping into broad themes. Moreover, the process continued to identify sub-themes and major themes, all registered in a codebook aiming to keep
The first, focus groups, interviews conducted with 8 to 10 people with a trained moderator following an interview guide, a common useful approach for acquiring health care information. Also, useful in examining a wide range of sensitive health care issues. Second, probability sampling, units selected by chance, the sample’s reliability, and does not require detailed information about the population surveyed. The third option, mail surveys, inexpensive way to contact individuals over a large geographical area, provide anonymity to the respondent, and eliminate interviewer bias.
Same-sex marriage is now legal, spouses now have rights to pension benefits, continued insurance coverage, immigration laws are applied, as well as the right to tax filing status. Most people are allowing themselves to be more educated when it comes to homosexuality. Nurses who are more empathetic and compassionate tend to be those who work among PLWHA, or people living with HIV and AIDS, and are associated with lower feelings of psychological distress. There are also several studies that depict the more negative attitudes of health care providers towards patients with HIV/AIDS for reasons such a general fear of working with the terminally ill, perceptions of personal risk, being professionally adjudicated upon, fear of contracting the disease, and the unwillingness to work with patient populations including but not limited to homosexuals and intravenous drug users. These findings are consistent with Allport’s social psychology theory of intergroup contact (SOURCE), a theory that describes a weakened prejudice caused by increased contact with “an out-group” leading to a more positive attitude toward that group. In regards to nurses, it was found that the perception of stigma related to HIV influences their job satisfaction significantly. Research has also shown that
Mack, N., Woodsong, C., Macqueen, K., Guest, G., & Namey, E. (2005). Qualitative research methods a data collector's field guide. Research Triangle Park, N.C.: Family Health International.
Mack, N., Woodsong, C., MacQueen, K., Guest, G., & Namey, E. (2005). Qualitative research methods: A data collector’s field guide. Retrieved from http://www.fhi.org
HIV has many psychological aspects which can impact on the way a patient behaves. Stigma and non-adherence are just two aspects associated with the disease. Many individuals have negative attitudes towards people with HIV and this can result in HIV patients suffering from discrimination. Bad quality healthcare and patients being fearful of seeking treatment are just two of the outcomes of stigma (Mandal, 2013). It has been known for healthcare professionals to withhold treatment, breach confidentiality and isolate HIV patients when not necessary (Engenderhealth, 2004a). Homosexual men have always been at the forefront of HIV stigma and in 1985 Dougal et al conducted a study about homophobia on 128 nurses and physicians. The results showed that ten per cent felt that homosexual men were responsibl...
Qualitative research is an approach that attempts to situate an activity that locates the observer in the world by providing the study to occur in their natural setting and by attempting to make sense of, or interpret information (Denzin and Lincoln, 2005). A characteristic of qualitative research is to use a variety of empirical materials such as personal experience, interviews, and questionnaires. It is imperative to understand the task at hand and how to fully carry out the study when using a qualitative research approach in order to find out the information needed. One view of qualitative research is it involves examining individual’s experiences and documenting those experiences in detail (Jones, 2011). By documenting these observations the researcher is ensuring validity in his or her data and giving the correct creditability to those who participated in the study.
The type of data collection for a qualitative research study depends on the research design. The qualitative design itself originates out of the disciplines and flow throughout the process of research (Creswell, 2014). Creswell (2014) recommends narrative, phenomenology, ethnography, case study, and grounded theory as common qualitative research methods. These were recommended because of they are popular across the social and health and science research studies. Hays and Woods (2011) asserted that selecting a research tradition congruent with one's research orientation and study purpose, and at the same time, infusing it in all phases of qualitative inquiry, is one of the key criterions for trustworthiness of the research results. Hays and Woods (2011) recommends six qualitative research traditions, including ground theory, phenomenology, consensual qualitative research, ethnography, narratology, and participative action research. Indeed, while there are additional qualitative research methods available, scholars have identified these six qualitative traditions consistently or identified them as emerging and common methods of qualitative research (Hays & Woods, 2011).
Overall, I feel that my focus group discussion was a success. I was able to put together a reflection of the process that covered teaching practices and conceptual framework ideas that were used by their IC’s. The teaching practice discussed was The Big Four and the Conceptual Framework consisted of the teacher’s experiences with valuing diversity, technology integration, and practicing professional ethics in the classroom.
For health professionals, realizing the existence and influence of stigma is important for care planning. According to Emma Lindley, a senior researcher, stigma is “a socially mediated phenomenon which is co-created by social difference and prejudice”, though it is possible that
Zukoski, A. P., & Thorburn, S. (2009, November 4). Experience of Stigma and Discrimination among Adults Living with HIV in a Low HIV-Prevalence Context: A Qualitative Analysis. AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 23(), 267-275.
Effects of health professionals stigmatising marginalised groups Stigma is a stamp of scorn that divides a group from society (WHO, 2013). Stigma can lead to negative attitudes and beliefs, which in turn can lead to the way in which stigmatised individuals or groups are treated. This is discrimination, which is defined as unfairly treating people and is a human rights issue (WHO,2013). The attitudes of nurses and other health professionals towards patients can be a major barrier to healthcare literacy (Ka Ku & Ha, 2015, p.45). Nurses also have the capacity to be instigators of change.
Ulin,R.P., Robinson,E.T.,Tolle,E.E. (2005) Qualitative Methods in Public Health: A Field Guide for Applied Research. San Francisco: Family health international. in Humanities a
Hoff, T. J. (2011). Toward a culture of qualitative thinking in health services research. Medical
Qualitative research was designed as a way to be directly connected with the subjects researched. Participant researchers may choose to merely observe and collect data or to be an active participant. Covert participation has the advantage of reducing the “reactive effects” of the social setting or group (Bachman & Schutt, 2012). Most researchers who use the participation method of research will often strike a balance between participation and observation. Through participation, an observer may gain the trust of the research subjects which can provide more fruitful results. Some research may however be unethical or a violation of law. A good researcher should use prudence beforehand when crafting their research design.
Qualitative data analysis is composed of document, observation, interviews, focus groups, and being able to discuss what is being found in each of the piece of data collected (Chenail, 2012). Qualitative data analysis can be viewed as understanding the analysis of data. For qualitative data to be successfully analyzed, the researcher must be able to maintain control of their study, be able analyze their study, analyze themselves, and be able to present this found data in various publications (Chenail, 2012).