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Table 3 IFG functions and their use during PRO content development

From: A promising method for identifying cross-cultural differences in patient perspective: the use of Internet-based focus groups for content validation of new Patient Reported Outcome assessments

FUNCTION

Description of Function

Use During PRO Content Development

Text Based Session Transcripts

All transcripts, including moderator questions/probes, participant responses, and external observer comments, are available on-line and can be made searchable by thematic content.

Participants' responses were revisited to:

- Explore reasons for content differences between the countries

- Assure that PRO item wording and phraseology used natural language

Qualitative Coding Function

The qualitative coding function allows moderators to create hierarchical coding categories with an unlimited number of sub-categories. Participant responses can then be thematically coded for later retrieval and summarization. The ability to add coding comments to the coded items for later reference.

Responses were coded into one or more coding categories, from which frequency counts identified common themes which could be further sub-grouped by focus group members' characteristics (such as country, gender, or disease characteristics).

Fish-Bowl Function

The fish bowl or backroom function allows observers to make comments regarding participants' posts. These (color coded) comments are visible only to moderators and other external observers.

Moderators used this function to integrate the comments/queries from external IFG observers (e.g., members of the PRO development team, KOLs) during sessions to guide probing of participant responses during the sessions.

Document Management Areas

File management areas are used to store the most recent versions of materials such as participant screeners, topic guide, and the qualitative coding schedule.

On-line documentation provided planners and research analysts with current versions of all relevant study documents for the purposes of updating, discussion, and later reference.

Multilingual Implementation

The integrated language modules of FocusForumsâ„¢ allow moderators to conduct all IFG activities in the users' native language.

Moderators had access to transcripts and thematic frequency results in their native language. These resources were used to identify cross-cultural similarities and differences, as well as make content and wording recommendations during the design of the new questionnaires.