The Power of a Ricoeur‐Inspired Phenomenological‐Hermeneutic Approach to Focus Group Interviews

ABSTRACT

Aim

To justify the use of focus group interviews with patients and healthcare professionals within a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach inspired by the theory of the French philosopher Paul Gustave Ricoeur.

Design and Methods

Methodological guidance and discussion grounded in Ricoeur's theory on narrative, dialogue, threefold mimesis and interpretation.

Results

This phenomenological-hermeneutical approach to focus group interviews yields significant, in-depth understandings of lived experiences from both patients and healthcare professionals.

Conclusions

Ricoeur-inspired phenomenological-hermeneutical focus group interviews with patients and healthcare professionals offer a promising approach for exploring and generating new, valuable insights into the complexities of clinical nursing practice. Thus, this paper argues for an integration of focus group interviews and a phenomenological-hermeneutical approach within nursing science.

Implications for the Profession

The approach has significant implications for nursing practice. By incorporating Ricoeur-inspired dialogue-based collective voices of patients and healthcare professionals in focus group interviews, nursing practices can be refined, leading to improved patient care and more effective clinical interventions. Thus, this approach advocates for a broader adoption of Ricoeur-inspired focus group interviews in nursing research and in health research in general to enhance the understanding and development of clinical models.

Reporting Method

No available EQUATOR guidelines were applicable to this methodological paper, as no new data were created or analysed.

Patient or Public Contribution

As this is a methodological paper, no new patient or public contributions are included.