Kontakt 2008, 10(2):274-282 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2008.042

Problems of methodology of the life quality research in the Romany ethnic group in Slovakia in view of nursing activitiesNursing

Michaela Dingová^1,*, Mária Nemčeková²

¹ Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, Ústav ošetrovateľstva, SR

² Univerzita Mateja Bela, Fakulta humanitných vied, katedra filozofických vied, Banská Bystrica, SR

In the present contribution, the authors indicate a problem, which occurred in association with the assessment of the quality of life of members of the Romany minority in Slovakia. The concept of the quality of life and its measurement is universal, primarily established and employed by majority societies - mostly or possibly exclusively by societies of so called Euro-American type. In the course of forming the concept of the quality of life in the discursion of nursing and in association with the target group, a question emerged, which became as important as the primary research intention. Is it possible to implement this universal approach given the social and cultural differences in Romany people? The use of universal measuring tools is, in spite of many advantages (psychometric characteristics, standardized questionnaires), not complex for the explanation of the quality of life of specific groups and the method should be supplemented.
Target: A comparative analysis of the concepts of the quality of life with taking into account cultural specificity and searching for methodological possibilities of their use in nursing for a particular target group - Romany minority in Slovakia.

Methods: The authors identified literature sources giving themes of the quality of life from the viewpoints of nursing, related humanitarian disciplines and cultural specificity. By a contents and comparative analysis they attempted to outline methodological possibilities and their use for a particular target group - Romany ethnic group in Slovakia. They are pointing out different epistemic starting points in the research of the Romany minority compared with the majority, such as mixing of ethnic specific features with the culture of poverty, problem of a representative research sample, need of subjective declaration of the identity, specific features of social bonds, language, communication and other differences, which should also be reflected in the methodical approach. In the present contribution, the authors outline the concept of the quality of life, which respects the widest methodological framework of nursing represented by the integral approach on the one hand and also taking into account specific features of the Romany minority on the other.

Conclusion: Optimum approaches to establishing the level of the quality of life in the Romany population are those directly resulting from the nature of the construct (analysis of life conditions, activities, relationships and targets and their subjective evaluation by subjects providing the information) and characteristics of the target group. Research strategy and methods are conclusively identified in agreement with the findings mentioned (WHO questionnaires supplemented by ethnographic interview and objective observation in natural environment).

Keywords: nursing; quality of life; methodological problems; Romany ethnic group in Slovakia

Received: August 30, 2008; Accepted: June 6, 2008; Prepublished online: December 17, 2008; Published: December 17, 2009  Show citation