TY - JOUR

T1 - Fictitious cases as a methodology to discuss sensitive health topics in focus groups

AU - Gram, Emma Grundtvig

AU - Brodersen, John Brandt

AU - Hansen, Cæcilie

AU - Pickles, Kristen

AU - Smith, Jenna

AU - Jønsson, Alexandra Ryborg Brandt

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - PurposeIt can be challenging to research aspects of people’s health behaviour, attitudes, and emotions due to the sensitive nature of these topics. We aimed to develop a novel methodology for discussing sensitive health topics, and explore the effectiveness in focus groups using prostate cancer and screening as an example.MethodWe developed a fictitious case and employed it as a projective technique in focus groups on prostate cancer and screening. The participants were men and their partners who lived in Denmark.ResultsThe technique encouraged emotional and cognitive openness in focus group discussions about the risk of prostate cancer, the benefits and harms of screening, and decision-making about screening. It appeared that using the fictitious case allowed the participants to personally distance themselves from the topic, project emotions onto the case, and thereby openly talk about their emotions.ConclusionThis article presents a methodological contribution to communication about sensitive topics in focus groups, using prostate cancer screening as an example. Further refinement of the methodology is needed to enable participants to transfer improvements in knowledge to their own decision about screening.

AB - PurposeIt can be challenging to research aspects of people’s health behaviour, attitudes, and emotions due to the sensitive nature of these topics. We aimed to develop a novel methodology for discussing sensitive health topics, and explore the effectiveness in focus groups using prostate cancer and screening as an example.MethodWe developed a fictitious case and employed it as a projective technique in focus groups on prostate cancer and screening. The participants were men and their partners who lived in Denmark.ResultsThe technique encouraged emotional and cognitive openness in focus group discussions about the risk of prostate cancer, the benefits and harms of screening, and decision-making about screening. It appeared that using the fictitious case allowed the participants to personally distance themselves from the topic, project emotions onto the case, and thereby openly talk about their emotions.ConclusionThis article presents a methodological contribution to communication about sensitive topics in focus groups, using prostate cancer screening as an example. Further refinement of the methodology is needed to enable participants to transfer improvements in knowledge to their own decision about screening.

U2 - 10.1080/17482631.2023.2233253

DO - 10.1080/17482631.2023.2233253

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37463336

VL - 18

JO - International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being

JF - International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being

SN - 1748-2623

IS - 1

ER -