Five Qualitative Research Concepts Grounded in Anthropological Methods for Teaching Design in Healthcare

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering Education
• Healthcare Design
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• Human-centered design is integral to global health programs.
• The COVID-19 pandemic and biotech advancements underscore the need for ethical, empathetic health research professionals.
• Health professionals face challenges integrating technical advancements with legal, ethical, and sociopolitical considerations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the rationale for teaching qualitative research in healthcare for biomedical engineering and engineering design education.
• To improve understanding of behavior in healthcare design.
• To prepare undergraduate students for rigorous, respectful, and aware qualitative research in health.

Main Methods:

• Design-based research approach.
• Instruction of qualitative-driven concepts in an engineering design course.
• Development and testing of five qualitative research tools.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated healthcare designs resulting from the engineering design course.
• Provided five tested research tools for qualitative research in health.
• Enhanced preparation for students in biomedical engineering, design, and premed programs.

Conclusions:

• Integrating qualitative research enhances the rigor and ethical considerations in health-focused design education.
• The presented tools can improve the quality of qualitative research for developing novel health solutions.
• This approach aims to increase the adoption of qualitative research concepts in health programs globally.