Qualitative research has gained greater attention in medical research, but it might seem to be unscientific because qualitative and quantitative research methods are grounded in different paradigm.
In this article, we introduce three major qualitative research methods frequently used in studies of patient-doctor communications: 1) in-depth interviews; 2) focus group interviews and, 3) semi-structured interviews.
Each qualitative research method has different or common advantages and disadvantages, and which methods should be used depends on the study objectives. Qualitative research and quantitative research are complementary: while quantitative research explains the prevalence or variation of an issue, qualitative research explains the reasons or processes of that prevalence or variation. Combination of the two methods enables the gathering of more comprehensive and explanatory results.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate Japanese physicians' use of dialects related to geographic areas and to elucidate how physicians respond to dialect-using patients.
METHODS: We conducted a web-based open survey, to which 170 anonymous physicians reported. We examined the following 1) whether dialects are used during communication with patients; 2) how to communicate with patients using dialects; and, 3) reasons for having difficulty in communicating with patients who regularly use dialects. Geographical areas were divided into the following 8 areas Hokkaido-Tohoku, Kanto, Koshinetsu-Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu-Okinawa.
RESULTS: Of 170 physicians, 61.2% (95% CI: 53.4-68.5%) reported using dialects. These proportions differed by geographic area (F= 8.141; p<0.001) . Physicians practicing in Shikoku and Chugoku used dialects most frequently, while those practicing in Kanto and Hokkaido-Tohoku used dialects least frequently. Many dialect-using physicians thought that physicians should use the same dialect as dialect-using patients. In addition, dialect-using physicians were more likely to think that a physician-related factor was responsible for having difficulty in garnering clinical information.
CONCLUSIONS: Use of dialects by Japanese physicians during communication with patients seems common and may differ by geographic areas. Physicians' use of dialects could be a useful tool for effective clinical communication.

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BACKGROUND: In recent years, various studies have analyzed the concepts of “good death” and “quality of dying and death” in the world. The objective of this study was to compare community residents and physicians regarding their perceptions of “good death” in a terminal cancer setting in Fukushima, Japan.
METHODS: One thousand residents of Fukushima City (40 years or older) were randomly selected for comparison to the 483 physicians working in the same city. A self-administered questionnaire was used to query residents and physicians on 52 items about “good death.”
RESULTS: The response rate was 73.6% for the residents and 53.0% for the physicians. The concept of “good death” was composed of 14 factors for both groups. We elucidated the structure of the concept of “good death” in the general population and physicians in Japan, and only the third factor, “religion and spiritual beliefs, ” was the same between the general population and physician.
CONCLUSION: The data offers useful information pertaining to palliative care education for medical providers. Specifically, physicians should understand the differences between concepts held by the general population and physicians. For example, some same items were included in factor X (continuance of one's lifestyle) for citizen and factor II for physician. But contribution ratios of factor X for citizen and factor II for physician were different. This should lead to the better palliative care provision.

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BACKGROUND: Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become popular in Japan.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations of symptom-related CAM use with sociodemographic factors in Japan.
DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective cohort study of a nationally representative sample of households in Japan.
PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults who developed at least one symptom during a 31-day period.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported, symptom-related use of CAM, either physical CAM or oral CAM.
RESULTS: Of 2, 453 adults, 2, 103 participants (86%) developed at least one symptom. Of these symptomatic adults, 156 (7.4% ; 95% CI: 6.3-8.5%) used physical CAM therapy. The likelihood of using physical CAM was not significantly influenced by annual household income, employment, or education. Participants living in large cities had an increased likelihood of using physical CAM with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.6 (95% CI: 1.2-5.8), compared to those living in rural areas. Oral CAM therapy was used by 480 participants (22.8%; 95% CI: 21.0-24.6%) among the symptomatic adults. An age of 60 years old and older (OR 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2-3.3) and female gender (OR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3-2.6) were significantly associated with an increased use of oral CAM. The unemployed participants had a lower likelihood of using oral CAM, with an OR of 0.6 (95% CI: 0.4-0.9), compared to the employed.
CONCLUSIONS: Oral CAM use is common among Japanese patients and is associated with older age, female gender, and employed status, while physical CAM use is less common and is associated with living in a large city.

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