Grown-ups like numbers. When you tell them about a new friend, they never ask questions about what really matters. They never ask: "What does his voice sound like?" "What games does he like best?" "Does he collect butterflies?" They ask: "How old is he?" "How many brothers does he have?" "How much does he weigh?" "How much money does his father make?" Only then do they think they know him.
If you tell grown-ups, "I saw a beautiful red brick house, with geraniums at the windows and doves on the roof," they won't be able to imagine such a house. You have to tell them, "I saw a house worth a hundred thousand francs." Then they exclaim, "What a pretty house!"
In this passage from "The Little Prince," the author, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, highlights the differences between quantitative and qualitative studies.
Quantitative Study:
Quantitative study focuses on measurable data, numbers, and statistics. It involves the collection of structured data, which is analyzed to draw conclusions or make generalizations. In the excerpt, the grown-ups' emphasis on the age, number of brothers, weight, and the father's income represents a quantitative approach. They rely on numerical information to understand the new friend or the value of a house.
Researchers might conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the effectiveness of acupuncture to a control group (e.g., sham acupuncture or usual care) for the treatment of chronic pain. Outcome measures could include pain intensity ratings, functional ability scores, and medication usage. This type of study would provide evidence on the overall effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing chronic pain in a large population.
Qualitative Study:
On the other hand, qualitative study delves into the non-measurable aspects of a subject, such as experiences, emotions, and perceptions. It often involves unstructured data, like interviews or observations, to explore the subject in depth. In the passage, the questions about the friend's voice, favorite games, and hobbies, as well as the description of the house with geraniums and doves, represent a qualitative approach. This perspective focuses on the qualities and characteristics that bring a deeper, more vivid understanding of the subject.
A qualitative study on the experience of acupuncture for chronic pain relief might involve in-depth interviews or focus groups with patients who have undergone acupuncture treatments. The study would explore patients' perceptions of acupuncture, their experiences during and after treatment sessions, and any perceived barriers or facilitators to its effectiveness. This type of study would provide insights into the subjective experiences of acupuncture and how these experiences might contribute to pain relief.
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Bishop FL, Lewith GT. Patients' preconceptions of acupuncture: a qualitative study exploring the decisions patients make when seeking acupuncture. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013 May 13;13:102. |
example download; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3658911/pdf/1472-6882-13-102.pdf
This combined approach can inform the development of evidence-based acupuncture treatment protocols that take into account both clinical effectiveness and individual patient experiences. This holistic understanding can ultimately contribute to improved patient care and satisfaction with acupuncture as a treatment option for chronic pain relief.
During the age of scientism, we believed, like the adults mentioned earlier, that we could understand the truth of things only through numbers. This tendency was no exception in medicine. In medicine, all emotional, spiritual, and humanistic values were excluded, and everyone compulsively expressed everything in numbers. Quantification in medical research was considered the only important research for conducting objective studies. However, gradually, modern medicine has come to recognize the value of qualitative data in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of health, disease, and treatment. It has been realized that, in addition to objective indicators represented by numbers, patient satisfaction, happiness, experiences, and feelings can provide important information for medical decision-making and policy formulation. It is obvious that humans cannot be expressed only in numbers. Yet, the boundless optimism of modern science has led to the expectation that everything human can be reduced to numbers. Fortunately, the limitations of quantitative research are now being revealed, and attention is being given to qualitative research as well.
The importance of qualitative research in medical studies lies in its ability to provide insights into patients' experiences, beliefs, and values. This information is crucial for understanding individual and cultural factors that may affect health outcomes, providing patient-centered care, and improving communication between healthcare providers and patients. By integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches, medical research can develop a more holistic perspective on health and well-being.
