The Use of Focus Groups with the Disabled Elderly

Abstract

The study objective was to examine the feasibility of using focus groups as a research method with physically disabled elderly (75+ years) people. Participants were cognitively intact, female patients in the geriatric rehabilitation ward of a general hospital in Sydney, Australia. The researchers acted as moderator and scribe. Sessions were tape-recorded, transcribed, and content analyzed. Five focus groups were conducted. Group size and length of session were reduced because of participants' age and disabilities. Insightful interactions occurred and critical issues emerged. Using the guidelines outlined, focus groups could be used more widely with disabled elderly people.