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Cited by 1,898Focus Groups and Qualitative MethodsQualitative Research Methods and EthicsQualitative Research Methods and Applications

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 30 of the 30 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Semistructured interviewing in primary care research: a balance of relationship and rigour

Open access
DeJonckheere, Melissa, Vaughn, Lisa M·2019·Family Medicine and Community Health
DOI 10.1136/fmch-2018-000057PMC PMC6910737
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Abstract

Semistructured in-depth interviews are commonly used in qualitative research and are the most frequent qualitative data source in health services research. This method typically consists of a dialogue between researcher and participant, guided by a flexible interview protocol and supplemented by follow-up questions, probes and comments. The method allows the researcher to collect open-ended data, to explore participant thoughts, feelings and beliefs about a particular topic and to delve deeply into personal and sometimes sensitive issues. The purpose of this article was to identify and describe the essential skills to designing and conducting semistructured interviews in family medicine and primary care research settings. We reviewed the literature on semistructured interviewing to identify key skills and components for using this method in family medicine and primary care research settings. Overall, semistructured interviewing requires both a relational focus and practice in the skills of facilitation. Skills include: (1) determining the purpose and scope of the study; (2) identifying participants; (3) considering ethical issues; (4) planning logistical aspects; (5) developing the interview guide; (6) establishing trust and rapport; (7) conducting the interview; (8) memoing and reflection; (9) analysing the data; (10) demonstrating the trustworthiness of the research; and (11) presenting findings in a paper or report. Semistructured interviews provide an effective and feasible research method for family physicians to conduct in primary care research settings. Researchers using semistructured interviews for data collection should take on a relational focus and consider the skills of interviewing to ensure quality. Semistructured interviewing can be a powerful tool for family physicians, primary care providers and other health services researchers to use to understand the thoughts, beliefs and experiences of individuals. Despite the utility, semistructured interviews can be intimidating and challenging for researchers not familiar with qualitative approaches. In order to elucidate this method, we provide practical guidance for researchers, including novice researchers and those with few resources, to use semistructured interviewing as a data collection strategy. We provide recommendations for the essential steps to follow in order to best implement semistructured interviews in family medicine and primary care research settings.

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Figure 1 Key characteristics of semistructured interviews.
Figure 1 Key characteristics of semistructured interviews.CC BY-NC · PubMed Central

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Kvale S . Interviews. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, 1996.
  2. Spradley JP . The ethnographic interview. 1979. Waveland Press, 2016.
  3. Bernard HR . Social research methods: quantitative and qualitative approaches. SAGE, 2000.

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Metadata

Authors
DeJonckheere, M., & Vaughn, L. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
DeJonckheere, Melissa
ORCID
Venue
Family Medicine and Community Health
Publisher
BMJ
Published
2019-03
Volume
7
Issue
2
Pages
e000057
ISSN
  • 2009-8774 (ISSN-L)
  • 2305-6983
DOI
10.1136/fmch-2018-000057
PMC
PMC6910737
OpenAlex
W2942286908
Cited by
1,898
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 304 · 2025: 356 · 2024: 378 · 2023: 341 · 2022: 267 · 2021: 171 · 2020: 62 · 2019: 14
FWCI
258.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc
Locations
  • Family Medicine and Community Health (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Focus Groups and Qualitative Methods
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
  • Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
Keywords
in-depth interviews, primary care research, family medicine research, interview skills, rapport building, trustworthiness, interview guide development, qualitative data collection, researcher-participant relationship, research ethics

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