[Use of qualitative diaries in health-related research]

This article focuses on factors which are relevant while using a diary in qualitative health related research. Diary is a data collection method which has several advantages: it approximates the real activities of research persons, it diminishes memory errors which may occur in retrospective interviews, and it helps to better understand the lifeworld of the research persons. Diaries can be used as an independent data collection method or combined with other methods, such as semi-structured or deep-interviews or observations. Using a qualitative diary needs a careful consideration of the design and aims of the research in question. For these reasons water-proof instructions of using diaries are not eligible. Rather, the method should be applied each time it is used. In the area of nursing science there are several possibilities for applications. For example, the view-points of a hospital patient or a client of health care services can be reached and understood better.