Table 1 Rationale for choice of questioning method about health and non-study drug treatment (28/52 respondents)
Example quotes from respondents | Question method used in the study | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General enquiry only | Structured enquiry only | General and structured enquiry combination | Added pictures, diary, charts, collecting packets, showing sample drugs | ||
Standardization of assessments or data capture (including historical use of a method in the research group) | “A systematic approach based on pharmacovigilance procedures developed by our collaborators” | x | x | x | |
“We are used to that” | |||||
Specificity of data sought (seeking information about particular adverse events, malaria symptoms or drugs) | “We wanted to find out about specific symptoms and adverse effects” | x | x | x | |
“The named drug questions targeted drugs of special interest” | |||||
Comprehensiveness of data sought (participant guidance, report clarification, overcoming barriers to reporting such as poor recall or ability to name medicines) | “To provide a clear understanding about what investigators are looking for and to be sure they capture all complaints from study participants” | x | x | x | |
“To get more information which may have been missed during the initial interview” | |||||
Avoidance of suggestion | “Keeping questions open and not leading so that only events significant to the patient are reported” | x | x | ||
Feasibility | “A simple screen [as the] main focus of the study was not safety/tolerability” | x | x | x | |
“Appears simple and not complex” | |||||
Understand participants’ perceptions about health | “[To] know if [symptoms] are related to chronic disease or traditional belief” | x | x | ||