What type of data is considered qualitative data in healthcare?

Qualitative data in healthcare is characterized by its descriptive nature, encompassing information that cannot be easily quantified. This includes capturing patient opinions, feelings, and experiences, which help provide a deeper understanding of the patient experience, perceptions of care, and other subjective factors affecting health outcomes.

This type of data is crucial for gaining insights into patient satisfaction, the impact of treatments on quality of life, and other non-numeric aspects of health. It often involves methods such as interviews, focus groups, and open-ended survey questions that elicit rich, detailed information.

In contrast, the other options focus on data types that are more quantitative or administrative in nature. For example, numerical data relating to patient outcomes provides measurable outcomes and is not subjective. Administrative records primarily consist of structured data that support operational and financial functions but do not typically capture the qualitative aspects of patient care. Quantitative data related to treatment efficiency is also focused on numeric analysis, such as statistics and metrics, and does not encompass the qualitative nuances of patient experiences.