Over the past few years, the focus group method has assumed a very important role as a method for collecting qualitative data in social and behavioural science research. This article elucidates theoretical and practical problems and prospects associated with the use of focus groups as a qualitative research method in social and behavioural science research. The core uses of focus groups in soci...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of a (minimally) guided peer support group (GPSG) for people with psychosis on social network, social support, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and quality of life, and to evaluate the intervention and its economic consequences. METHOD In a multi-center randomized controlled trial with 56 patients in the peer support group and 50 patients in the control conditio...

This paper develops a model in which physicians choose the level of services to be provided to their patients. We show that if physicians undervalue benefits to patients relative to hospital profits, prospective payment, a system in which hospitals receive a payment dependent on the diagnosis-related group within which a patient falls, can lead to too few services being provided. In contrast, a...

OBJECTIVE This study aims at determining factors related to the intention to participate and actual participation in social support groups for prostate cancer patients, using the framework of the theory of planned behavior. The factors studied are background variables, medical variables, psychosocial variables and attitude, social norms and perceived control. METHODS From various sources, 238...

  Abstract   Background: In this study we aimed to examine the discrimination and calibration of   a severity characterization of trauma (ASCOT) in our setting to determine whether its usage   is appropriate to predict outcome of our trauma patients.   Methods: This study was conducted in three hospitals. All patients admitted in studied   hospitals were divided randomly into two equal subgroup...