Having trouble accessing top healthcare executives for participation in research to guide development of your future products and services? Have you ever wished - after completion of a research study - that topics emerging from the study could have also been explored before it was too late? Do you find yourself needing final analyses faster than they are typically available? Online bulletin board focus groups may be the answer you've been looking for.

In a nutshell, online bulletin board focus groups are extended focus groups that take place in cyberspace. The groups typically span five to seven days, with participants asked to respond to key research questions that are posted on two or three different days during the study, according to a pre-defined schedule. Each time a new series of questions is posted, each participant has up to two business days to respond. This is both an online "in-depth" interview, given that the moderator can probe back and forth privately with a single respondent, and an open group that enables peer-to-peer interaction.

The benefits of this methodology for healthcare technology companies are significant. Easy, direct access to top hospital brass, both individually and as a group. Rapid study completion. Ability to monitor and guide the research real-time, and change course mid-stream if desired, with additional lines of questioning as the data is being collected.

Additionally, the C-suite responds well to this methodology for several reasons. Simply put, it's a novel concept that makes participation in research fun! Hectic and ever-changing executive schedules are no longer a barrier. Participation can take place any time day or night, and is lucrative, with honorariums of typically $500 or more. Creation of a fictitious persona for each participant enables a "safe environment" to openly discuss in-depth what's "keeping them up at night" and engage with the peers who understand them best. 

Porter Research recently conducted a group with hospital CEOs, CMOs and CNOs who were recruited with minimal effort in less than two days! One CEO summed up his experience: " Thank you for the invitation to participate. It has been an interesting experience. Enjoyed reading the other participants' input as well." 

If you'd like to learn more about how methodology can work for you, please contact Porter Research today.