A Brief Discussion and Application of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in the Field of Health Science and Public Health

Abstract

For a significantly long time, the field of health science and public health has relied considerably on quantitative and experimental evidence to support knowledge. Researchers in the field of social science and public health promotion advocate that qualitative research methodologies and IPA could be a useful tool to understand the inner world and perception for patients with particular illness and background. Unlike quantitative research studies, qualitative research studies do not seek statistical and experimental answers for client healing and operational activities but how and why illness influences the life of patients. The purpose of qualitative research study with a particular lens of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) tends to describe a certain phenomenon or social problem by explaining the subject of study. The purpose of this study is to introduce the applications of IPA and summarize the two literature reviews with the application of IPA in the fields of nursing education and public health. The results of this study aim to provide a guideline for potential public health and nursing educators to employ IPA and other related qualitative research methodologies to capture and reform the current teaching curriculum and the rapidly changing society in the health science field.