Autobiography as genre for qualitative data: A reservoir of experience for nursing research

SummaryThis paper is concerned with the use of published literary autobiographies that contain first-hand accounts of illness narratives, to explore their usefulness as a form of qualitative data to generate knowledge that can inform nursing practice. There is increasing realisation that the experiences of patients and families should be used to guide health care service delivery, and autobiographical accounts are a valuable resource, providing first-hand accounts of the ways illness, disability, and health care, are experienced by patients and their families.