Virtual Focus Groups as an Answer to Research During a Pandemic: Implications for Nursing Professional Development

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Qualitative Research
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Focus groups are a standard qualitative data collection method.
• Technological advancements and virtual healthcare increase opportunities for online data collection.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the need for virtual research methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To promote virtual focus groups as an effective method for qualitative data collection.
• To explore strategies for maintaining privacy and confidentiality in online focus groups.
• To highlight the utility of virtual focus groups in nursing professional development.

Main Methods:

• This is a perspective article.
• It discusses the application and benefits of virtual focus groups.
• It explores methods for ensuring privacy and confidentiality in virtual environments.

Main Results:

• Virtual focus groups provide a viable solution for challenging data collection scenarios.
• Technological integration allows for rich qualitative data gathering remotely.
• Strategies exist to safeguard privacy and confidentiality in online research.

Conclusions:

• Virtual focus groups are a practical and effective tool for nursing professional development.
• The method supports robust qualitative data collection in diverse settings.
• Emphasis on privacy and confidentiality is crucial for successful virtual focus group implementation.