The use of focus groups in health research

Focus groups--informal sessions in which participants are asked to discuss their thoughts on a specific topic or product--are being used with increased frequency in health research. The following paper examines the uses, advantages, and limitations of this qualitative research technique. Also provided is a discussion of the elements comprising a focus group session including the function of the moderator and the role of participants. In addition, guidelines for analyzing focus group data are presented. The paper concludes with a detailed description of the application of focus group research to a health promotion campaign.