Author Response: Students’ Positive Coping Strategies From Disaster: A Narrative Analysis

Article information

J Prev Med Public Health. 2023;56(4):390-391

Publication date (electronic) : 2023 July 31

doi : https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.23.271

Minsu Ock^1,2,3

¹Department of Preventive Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea

²Ulsan Metropolitan City Public Health Policy’s Institute, Ulsan, Korea

³Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Corresponding author: Minsu Ock, Department of Preventive Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan 44033, Korea, E-mail: ohohoms@naver.com

Dear Editor,

We woud like to thank the authors for their interest in the two articles introducing the methodology of qualitative research: “Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Necessity and Characteristics” and “Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Data Analysis” [1,2]. The first article, “Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Necessity and Characteristics,” introduces the characteristics of qualitative research as opposed to quantitative research, and especially emphasizes when qualitative research is useful [1]. The second article, “Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Data Analysis,” presents six representative analysis methods used in qualitative research (consensual qualitative research, phenomenological research, qualitative case study, grounded theory, photovoice, and content analysis), along with methods of reviewing the validity of a study [2]. These 2 articles are meaningful in that they emphasize the necessity of using qualitative research in the healthcare field, where quantitative research is traditionally used as the main research methodology.

The authors’ article, “Students’ Positive Coping Strategies from Disaster: A Narrative Analysis,” also utilized a qualitative research methodology. The article looked at the impact of Super Typhoon Odette (internationally known as Rai) on university students in the region and their coping mechanisms. In other words, it briefly presents the specific impact of Super Typhoon Rai on the lives of a total of 12 college students. As noted by the authors, these life narrations are expected to help provide adequate support for them in terms of public health and preventive medicine. Their findings are also expected to stimulate follow-up studies on the effects of various natural disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes, and droughts, as well as social disasters such as traffic accidents, medical accidents, and terrorism on people’s health and medical care [3–5].

It is also impressive that the authors utilized narrative inquiry, which was not covered in “Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Data Analysis.” Narrative inquiry, which calmly tells a story about someone’s unique experience, is an excellent example of the strengths of qualitative research. “Qualitative Research in Healthcare: Data Analysis” could not describe all qualitative research analysis methodologies due to space limitations, but it is necessary to pay attention to more diverse analysis methods, such as auto-ethnography, as well as narrative analysis. I look forward to conducting more diverse qualitative studies in the field of healthcare in the future.