Garrett K. Chan, PhD, RN, FAEN, FPCN; Karen A. Brykczynski, DNSc, RN, FAANP, FAAN; Ruth E. Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN; and Patricia Benner, PhD, RN, FAAN

Interpretative phenomenological analysis aims to offer insights into how a person within a given context makes sense of a phenomenon—usually these phenomena relate to experiences of some personal significance such as a major life event (acute or chronic illness, death of a loved one, change in economic status, etc.) or the development of an important relationship. Interpretive phenomenology augments the decontextualized stories—those told without consideration of the wholeness of one’s life—told by rational-empirical research studies of human beings. It reveals knowledge embedded in caring, cultural and social practices, engaged skilled actions, embodied know-how, and concrete ways people cope with everyday life events such as health, illness, injury, birth, suffering, and dying.

Interpretive Phenomenology for Health Care Research reveals in intimate, descriptive, and interpretive accounts what it means to be human and what is common to human lives. The book will help readers better understand the philosophy and methodology used to study the lived experiences of persons receiving health care.

About the Authors

Garrett K. Chan, PhD, RN, FAEN, FPCN, convened and participated in a conference of interpretive phenomenologists to discuss philosophical and methodological issues. He is an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco. He has published chapters in textbooks and articles in journals such as the Journal of Emergency Nursing and Nursing Philosophy.

Karen A. Brykczynski, DNSc, RN, FAANP, FAAN, has more than 20 years of experience with the methodology and teaches a qualitative methodology course at the University of Texas at Galveston, where she is professor of nursing. She has published many articles and book chapters related to interpretive phenomenology as a methodology and philosophy, and findings from her research studies.

Ruth E. Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, is an expert in qualitative methodologies and in the humanities. She uses qualitative methodologies in her research studies and has taught advanced qualitative methodology courses at the University of California, San Francisco, where she is professor of nursing.

Patricia Benner, PhD, RN, FAAN, is an internationally recognized expert on interpretive phenomenology. She has published widely on the topic as a philosophy and methodology. Dr. Benner has taught qualitative methodology and philosophy of science courses at the University of California, San Francisco, where she is professor emerita. She is director of a National Nursing Education Research Project under the auspices of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Advance Praise for Interpretive Phenomenology in Health Care Research

“This collection takes us far along the path to wholeness in nursing science by articulating important and meaningful stories that are often overlooked in the quest for generalization and normalization. Anyone who thinks science is alienating and disconnected from human life will appreciate the recontextualized picture this book offers. And anyone who thinks rational empiricism has the whole story will have his or her eyes opened to what is missing.”

–Lisa Day, PhD, RN, CNS
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Neuroscience and Critical Care
University of California, San Francisco Medical Center

“Flying in the face of managerial demands for cool efficiency, these remarkable nurses instead propose full engagement with patients as situated and embodied persons. An invaluable guide to grasping the world as experienced, reclaiming health-caring across specialties.”

–Adele E. Clarke, PhD
Professor of Sociology
University of California, San Francisco
Co-Editor, BioSocieties

“Intrepretive Phenomenology in Health Care Research represents the fruits of an intellectual community at work, pushing our understanding of caring and patient and family lifeworlds into new, enriched dimensions.”

–Deborah R. Gordon, PhD
Departments of Anthropology, History, and Social Medicine
Univeristy of California, San Francisco
Co-editor, Biomedicine Examined

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