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2003 Healthy Hall Focus
Group Report - Purpose
completed
by Stiles Healthcare Strategy, Inc.
January 2004
The focus group discussions and this report that
follows are part of a larger initiative called Healthy Hall, a broad
effort to assess attributes and attitudes that make a community a great
place to live, work, age and grow a family.
It is important to the evaluation of this report to understand both the
value and the limitations of focus groups. Focus groups are a research
method that provides insight into the attitudes, ideas and opinions of a
particular group of people. It is reasonable to assume, for example,
that the attitudes expressed within a small group of adults over age 65
will be representative, at least in part, of a larger, group of older
adults. So when reading this report and evaluating the opinions of a
group, it is reasonable to assume the same attitudes and opinions exist
to some degree in the larger community.
Focus groups are not quantitative, however. One cannot assume that
because a large majority in a focus group believes one way, that the
same percentage of similar persons believes the same way.
A focus group is a snapshot of the community. Just as multiple
photographs can begin to reveal the look of a community, multiple focus
groups begin to reveal the character and the composition of community.
The multiple voices within the community are given an opportunity to
call out, and to be heard and better understood.
The groups were also used to guide the development of a community-wide
telephone survey that will provide quantitative information and greater
insight into the attitudes and habits that shape Hall County and
influence community health.
This report divides the discussions with each group into five general
areas:
Priority Issues Affecting Life In Hall County
Health Care Issues
Safety & Security Issues
Community Connections
Views Of The Future
In any group report where one of these categories is missing, it means
the group ran out of time before being able to discuss all areas. Time
was limited with some groups, especially with youth.
Questions about these focus groups should be directed to the leadership
of Healthy Hall or to Bill Stiles, president, Stiles Healthcare
Strategy, Inc., who facilitated each group and compiled this report.
Contact information is provided at the end of the report.
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Focus Group Table of Contents |
