Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, 1010 N. Kansas Ave., Wichita, KS 67214, USA.
Qual Health Res. 2010 May;20(5):617-27. doi: 10.1177/1049732310361466. Epub 2010 Feb 8.
Findings from telephone focus groups have not been compared previously to findings from face-to-face focus groups. We conducted four telephone focus groups and five face-to-face focus groups in which a single moderator used the same open-ended questions and discussion facilitation techniques. This comparison was part of a larger study to gain a better understanding of employment experiences after diagnosis of gynecologic cancer. Offering the telephone option made it easier to recruit women from rural areas and geographically distant cities. Interaction between participants occurred in both types of focus group. Content analysis revealed that similar elements of the employment experience after cancer diagnosis were described by telephone and face-to-face participants. Participants disclosed certain emotionally sensitive experiences only in the telephone focus groups. Telephone focus groups provide useful data and can reduce logistical barriers to research participation. Visual anonymity might help some participants feel more comfortable discussing certain personal issues.
先前尚未将电话焦点小组的调查结果与面对面焦点小组的调查结果进行比较。我们进行了四项电话焦点小组和五项面对面焦点小组的研究，由一名主持人使用相同的开放性问题和讨论促进技巧。此次比较是一项旨在更深入了解妇科癌症诊断后就业经历的大型研究的一部分。提供电话选项使得从农村地区和地理位置偏远的城市招募女性变得更加容易。在这两种焦点小组中，参与者之间都进行了互动。内容分析表明，癌症诊断后就业经历的相似方面既可以通过电话也可以通过面对面的参与者来描述。参与者仅在电话焦点小组中透露了某些情感上敏感的经历。电话焦点小组提供了有用的数据，并且可以减少参与研究的后勤障碍。视觉匿名性可能有助于某些参与者更自在地讨论某些个人问题。
