Focus groups. A unique approach to curriculum development.

The purpose of this article is to describe the use and effectiveness of focus group methodology for curriculum development. This unique approach grew from the investigators' belief in the application of the principles of primary health care in designing a curriculum for community-based nursing education. The specific content and outcomes of the focus groups in relation to three curricular themes are reported in this journal in the article "Community-Based Nursing Education: Research Study from the NLN Vision for Nursing Education--Hawai'i, Phase II." The current article concentrates on the process and methods used.