Abstract

ALVAREZ VAZQUEZ, Luisa. Research with qualitative approach in primary health care. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr [online]. 2006, vol.22, n.3. ISSN 0864-2125.

The researches on primary health care may be diverse. Not only what is related to the medical diagnosis of the affections may be necessary, but also to go deep into the knowledge of the relevant problems for the decision making in aspects of this sphere that need specific techniques for their study. This paper is aimed at showing assessments of studies conducted with qualitative techniques and at giving conceptual elements of the techniques used. It is based on the basic principles of Primary Care and follows as procedures the bibliographic review in books, journals and information available in Infomed. Researches with qualitative approach on this topic and on the most used qualitative techniques are identified in the bibliographic review. The results in specific fields requiring qualitative apporach are illustrated, and comments are made on the need to see the qualitative and quantitative studies as complementary. As a fundamental aspect, it is stated that the qualitative techniques applied to Primary Health Care have been limited, as well as the existence of bibliography and the feasibility of their application starting from the examples given.

Keywords : Qualitative researches; qualitative techniques; observation; interviews; individual interviews; group interviews; primary health care.