Chapter 15 - The draw and write technique to uncover nuance in pharmacy and health services delivery

Abstract

The draw and write technique is an arts-informed research method that has been used to explore a range of social and health-related topics. This method was initially developed for use with children and subsequently adapted as a qualitative research method for adult participants. More recently, it has gained the interest of pharmacy researchers seeking to understand illness and health service delivery as well as pharmacy educators for its ability to capture nuances of perception and experience. This chapter situates the technique within pharmacy-related arts-informed research, introducing the draw and write technique and some of its variations. Use of the method is demonstrated by presenting details of a study in which this approach was applied to explore public perceptions of community pharmacy services. The approach developed for this study was inspired by recent adaptations to the technique in combination with focus group interviews. This approach evoked visual expression of participants’ perceptions and experiences with community pharmacy services. It produced rich visual and textual data, allowing researchers access to a more diverse range of experiences and perspectives and an emphasis on emotion than they might otherwise have obtained. Details of the study, potential application of the draw and write technique to pharmacy education, and researchers’ experiences with the technique are presented.