[Use of focus group interviews in health science].

The focus group interview is a method for examining issues close to the informants' everyday lives. The focus group interview complements and explains results based on quantitative research. However, it may be first choice of method before entering into a quantitative design when faced with relatively unexplored problems. The role as interviewer is central and benefits from knowledge and experience with design, methods, and analysis of qualitative data. The implications of using the focus group interview in terms of validity, generalisability and reliability is discussed.