Abstract

The focus group is a qualitative research technique that is increasingly represented in the field of healthcare and applies to children and adolescents, either separately or in conjunction with other research methods. Using qualitative research methods, we collect information about values, beliefs and motives that are in the background of certain behaviours, and focus groups, as a key task, have to recognize a deeper reason behind a rational evaluation of a specific topic and to contribute to a better understanding of the subject’s individual but also group attitude, opinions and beliefs. The aim of this paper is to show the specificities of implementation, advantages and disadvantages and the possibility of applying focus groups in working with children and young people. For the success of the application, it is crucial to have a better adaptation to the developmental age of the child and its cognitive abilities. The advantages of using focus groups in working with children are that children communicate better in a group of peers compared to one-to-one communication with adults, there is no pressure on only one child and there is more flexibility as well; one disadvantage is that children can be influenced by other children when forming opinions, but this may also indicate the representation of an idea within the peer group. Focus groups can be used to obtain information on public health issues, information on healthcare availability, preventive programs at school, etc.