Critical incident technique: applicability in nursing research

Abstract

Objective: to describe the critical incidents technique and ITS applicability in nursing research. Method: this is an integrative review about the productions found through PubMed, Latin American literature and Caribbean Health Sciences, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Scientific Library Online and databases in nursing. Results: reading and analysis of the selected studies regarding the applicability of the technique in nursing research enabled grouping into 3 categories: 1) Describe feelings, perceptions and difficulties (69.3%); 2) Analyze situations, behaviors and consequences (23.0%); 3) Report experiences (7.7%). Conclusion: from this study, it is concluded that the technique is still little used and disseminated among researchers. This review presents an overview, allows the technical knowledge, consolidating it as an innovative methodology, characterized in particular by its multivalent, and ease of application.