The Critical Incident Technique (CIT) in Studying Health Care Professional–Patient Communication

Abstract

Our study aimed to describe and evaluate the applicability of the critical incident technique (CIT) in qualitatively identifying the health-related outcomes of professional–patient communication. We described and evaluated the applicability of the CIT by analyzing previous CIT studies in the field of multidisciplinary health research, as well as conducting a study in which the CIT was applied. We based our description and evaluation on the qualitative research model developed by Carter and Little (2007). Our evaluation showed that in addition to defining the critical requirements of professional–patient communication in relation to specific outcomes, the CIT could be applied in defining the significance of the multidimensional nature of professional–patient communication. However, the successful use of the CIT requires correct epistemological, methodological, and method-related choices regarding the CIT’s application in the research frame and the type of information sought.