Qualitative research in physiotherapy: What role does it deserve?

Introduction: Qualitative and quantitative research methods are complementary. Qualitative studies have gained some importance in physiotherapy but are still underrepresented. The objective of this article is to present qualitative research and its utility. Methods: Two studies are presented: (1) A phenomenological study identifies musicians' representation in regards to health. Eleven musicians were interviewed and three themes emerged. (2) The second study using Conversation Analysis investigates the interaction between patient and physiotherapist and sheds light on goal-setting. Results: The examples show the utility of qualitative research for professional practice. A systematic evaluation of those studies, however, is important to ensure validity of results. Conclusion: Physiotherapy may benefit from qualitative studies in order not only to apply evidence in regard to efficacy of interventions but also to adapt them to the population.