HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH METHODS IN PHARMACY: Introduction

This article forms the introduction to a series of review articles designed to guide readers on the selection and application of different health service research methodologies in pharmacy practice research. The reviews will discuss different methods that have been used in pharmacy practice settings, their advantages and disadvantages, problems that have arisen and how these have been addressed. The first article, on survey research, follows on p152. Future articles, which will include discussion of semi-structured and qualitative interviews, observation studies, and research into service evaluation, are planned for later issues