Qualitative Method and Its Application Status in Healthcare

TLDR: The qualitative research definition, advantages and disadvantages, the relation between qualitative and quantitative methods, techniques, application status, and significance used in Chinese medicine, etc, are introduced.

Abstract: Qualitative method originated from anthropology, sociology, psychology, folklore at the beginning of 20 century. Nowadays as a new m0ethod, medical qualitative method has been paid some attention by health care workers and researchers. This article introduces the qualitative research definition, advantages and disadvantages, the relation between qualitative and quantitative methods, techniques, application status, and significance used in Chinese medicine, etc. The author advocates that qualitative method will complement the effect appraisal content of Chinese medicine and explore the constitution of Chinese medicine complex intervention. However, qualitative research is inadequate in Chinese medicine, and we should conduct more high quality qualitative researches in Chinese medicine to enrich the clinical methods of Chinese medicine.