QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN PUBLIC HEALTH: FROM METHODOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS TO PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Keywords:
qualitative research, public health, thematic analysis, COREQ, VietnamAbstract
Objectives: To systematize the methodological foundations of qualitative research, describe common research designs and data collection methods, analyse practical applications in public health, and propose directions for improving research quality in Vietnam. Method: This narrative review examined textbooks, peer-reviewed articles indexed in PubMed and Scopus, and guidance documents from WHO on qualitative research in public health, prioritising publications from the past five years and studies conducted in Vietnam. Results: Qualitative research is grounded in interpretivist and social constructivist philosophy, employing three principal data collection methods: in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation. Five widely used designs—phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, qualitative description, and case study—address diverse research objectives in public health. Adherence to COREQ and SRQR reporting guidelines strengthens credibility and applicability of findings. In Vietnam, qualitative methods have been applied with increasing breadth across communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, health-seeking behaviour, and health policy evaluation. Conclusion: Qualitative research plays a central role in evidence-based intervention design and public health policy development. Strengthening researcher capacity, standardising reporting practices, and integrating mixed-methods approaches are priority directions for future development.
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