Techniques to tell the real story: narrative inquiry in health services research

Background Fifteen years ago in Health Services Research (1999) qualitative research methods were argued to be useful and valid. Since that time qualitative research methods have gained increasing legitimacy however qualitative research papers remain underrepresented in high impact health journals [1]. The rigour of qualitative methods and their relevance in policy evaluation and development is, however, a continuing debate. On the one hand, qualitative inquiry methods bring the complexity of health service policy impacts to the fore; they provide policy makers with perspectives from the people services aim to support. On the other hand, the variability of qualitative approaches can lead to questions around validity and utility of findings. Narrative inquiry is one qualitative approach which, like others, has no prescribed method. Yet it is a method gaining increasing popularity in social science, clinical and health services research. This paper makes the methodological case for narrative inquiry in health services research and recommends techniques.