Design considerations for qualitative research: getting at strawberry milk

Overview: This interactive workshop is designed to build dental hygiene researchers' confidence and skills for effectively using qualitative research methodologies, particularly focus groups and interviews, for oral healthcare research. The presenters' approach incorporates brief highlights of an institutional review board-approved qualitative research plan for, and preliminary findings from, a 2010-2011 Maryland qualitative and quantitative oral health study with pregnant women and parents of young children, and also with health care providers (dental hygienists, dentists, pediatricians, family practitioners and nurse practitioners). The study was conducted by the Herschel S. Horowitz Center for Health Literacy at the University of Maryland.