Enhancement of validity through qualitative approaches. Incorporating the patient's perspective

Validity of research in a medical environment is enhanced through incorporating the patient's perspective by using qualitative approaches. Our efforts to improve the validity of measures led us to examine the research process more broadly through mechanisms of patient participation: a protocol adviser, a participant advisory panel, and focus groups. In our research program of biopsychosocial HIV studies in the military population, feedback from patient participants provided the research staff with information important for refining standard measures, improving the research process, and interpreting the quantitative data analyses.