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Conducting ethnography in medical settings
1School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. cjp@soton.ac.uk
Medical Education
|November 30, 2005
Summary
This paper details the practical and ethical challenges of conducting ethnographic research in medical settings. It explores issues like access, data recording, and researching elite groups, offering insights into ethnography's value for medicine.
Area of Science:
- Medical Anthropology
- Qualitative Health Research
Background:
- Ethnographic research methods have a long history in medical settings.
- This paper offers a personal account of conducting ethnography in medical environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To focus on practical and ethical issues encountered during medical ethnography.
- To reflect on the contributions of ethnography to the field of medicine.
Main Methods:
- Personal account of ethnographic fieldwork in medical settings.
- Exploration of practical challenges including gaining access and data recording.
- Examination of ethical considerations and research roles.
Main Results:
- Identified specific issues in ethnographic work: access, data recording, research roles, and researching elite groups.
- Recounted dilemmas encountered in medical ethnographic research.
Conclusions:
- Ethnography presents unique challenges in medical environments.
- The paper reflects on the reciprocal value of ethnographic data for medicine.