CHALLENGES OF PARTICIPATORY QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN A MALAYSIAN AND AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL

Research in paediatric nursing, paediatric psychology, health care management and environment-behaviour studies suggest that there are many obstacles in completing qualitative research in health care settings with children and young people. As a result, the evidence from this kind of research is limited. Both authors have recently completed participatory qualitative studies with children and young people in paediatric environments, both in Malaysia and Australia. These will be briefly described and some of the practical and methodological challenges that each researcher experienced will be discussed. Each challenge has strong implications and potential impact on the research quality; and also on the children and young people’s experience of research.