Marika H F Burda1, Marjan van den Akker2, Frans van der Horst1, Paul Lemmens3, J André Knottnerus1. 1. Department of Family Medicine, School CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands. 2. Department of Family Medicine, School CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of General Practice, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 33 blok J-bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Marjan.vandenAkker@maastrichtuniversity.nl. 3. Department of Health Education, School CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To give an overview of important methodological challenges in collecting, validating, and further processing experiential expertise and how to address these challenges. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Based on our own experiences in studying the concept, operationalization, and contents of experiential expertise, we have formulated methodological issues regarding the inventory and application of experiential expertise. RESULTS: The methodological challenges can be categorized in six developmental research stages, comprising the conceptualization of experiential expertise, methods to harvest experiential expertise, the validation of experiential expertise, evaluation of the effectiveness, how to translate experiential expertise into acceptable guidelines, and how to implement these. The description of methodological challenges and ways to handle those are illustrated using diabetes mellitus as an example. CONCLUSION: Experiential expertise can be defined and operationalized in terms of successful illness-related behaviors and translated into recommendations regarding life domains. Pathways have been identified to bridge the gaps between the world of patients' daily lives and the medical world.
OBJECTIVES: To give an overview of important methodological challenges in collecting, validating, and further processing experiential expertise and how to address these challenges. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Based on our own experiences in studying the concept, operationalization, and contents of experiential expertise, we have formulated methodological issues regarding the inventory and application of experiential expertise. RESULTS: The methodological challenges can be categorized in six developmental research stages, comprising the conceptualization of experiential expertise, methods to harvest experiential expertise, the validation of experiential expertise, evaluation of the effectiveness, how to translate experiential expertise into acceptable guidelines, and how to implement these. The description of methodological challenges and ways to handle those are illustrated using diabetes mellitus as an example. CONCLUSION: Experiential expertise can be defined and operationalized in terms of successful illness-related behaviors and translated into recommendations regarding life domains. Pathways have been identified to bridge the gaps between the world of patients' daily lives and the medical world.