Qualitative research methods in palliative medicine and palliative oncology - An introduction

Qualitative research methods can be used as a complement to quantitative me thods in palliative research. Possible applications Lire 1) for the inducti on of hypotheses. 2) for the development of quality-of-life instruments. 3) for the exploration of complex phenomena and personal experiences. 4) for studying attitudes, 5) fur the observation of interactions and 6) For valid ation of quantitative results. Depending on the context and thr research qu estion, different qualitative methods such as hermeneutics, phenomenology. grounded theory or phenomenography might be used. The assumptions. the main slaps and the methods are briefly described, with some examples from palli ative situations.