GROUP INTERVIEWS

Interviews can occur between a researcher and an individual or between a researcher and two or more participants simultaneously with the participants known to each other (Burns & Grove, 2009:510).

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Two group interviews were conducted. The first group interview was conducted in an empty, single ward in the in-patient unit with the door closed, as the office was not available. The following group interview was conducted in an office in the in-patient unit with the door closed.

Table 4.2 Profile of Group Interview Participants

Gender Relationship to patient Number of syringe drivers in situ

Female, Female Daughter and Grand daughter One Female, Female,

Female

Wife, Sister, Sister-in-law Two

4.4.1 Gender distribution of group interviews

All the participants in the group interviews were female, with no males present (refer table 4.2).

4.4.2 Interview Schedule

Interviewers normally have a list of trigger or guide questions. There is space for dialogue and for the participant to offer responses that are not predetermined. Open-ended questions were used during the interviews. The order of questions was asked according to the schedule. Open-ended questions that focused on the topic of the study, that it, to produce more in-depth feedback on the participants’ understanding, perceptions and expectations of the syringe driver, were used to guide the interview (refer appendix 7). The questions were translated into Afrikaans (refer appendix 7) and the same questions were pasted in the diaries in English and Afrikaans for participants to complete. The translations were approved by a professional translator (refer appendix 8).

It was explained to all the participants that participation was voluntary and they could withdraw from the interview at any stage without suffering any form of victimisation. None of the participants withdrew from the interviews. Interviews were conducted in the language of their choice which was either English or Afrikaans. In some interviews, participants used a mix, of both English and Afrikaans.

4.4.3 Role of the moderator

The moderator’s role during the interview is to encourage participants to talk about the topic. The participants need to be encouraged to talk amongst themselves during the group interviews. If the topic is sensitive, the moderator needs to be able to put the participants at ease (Burns & Grove, 2009:515). The moderator needs to ensure that the interviewer conducts the interviews in a very professional and ethical manner. No moderator was used in this study due to the reasons previously explained (refer 4.2). Hence, the researcher fulfilled a dual role in this study.

4.4.4 Participants

There was a minimal risk of discomfort during the interviews. Burns and Grove (2009:209) describe minimal risk as “the risk of harm (that) is not greater than normally encountered in daily life”. The researcher was aware of the vulnerability of the participants and, therefore interviews were scheduled in the morning when the doctor, social worker and volunteer spiritual counsellors were on site. They work at the in-patient unit and all form part of the interdisciplinary team. Despite the fact that these professionals played no part in the interview, they were available to assist the participants, if they required any in-depth counselling, or medical assistance (refer appendices 15 &16). Due to the vulnerability of the participants, a distress protocol was noted on the information leaflet (refer appendix 5).

According to the distress protocol, any participants who appear to become distressed during the interview should be offered the opportunity to cease the interview. Participants may be allowed to restart when comfortable to proceed with the interview again. This option was offered to all participants, who become tearful and emotional during the interviews. None of the interviewees, however, expressed the need for extra counselling or medical assistance.

The researcher waited until participants had composed themselves, offered tissues and a reassuring touch of the hand, when appropriate. Touch was defined by McCorkle (cited in Seaman, 1991:261) as “gentle physical contact made by the investigator”. The interview recommenced when the participant was ready.

4.5 DIARIES

Burns and Grove (2009:416) describe a diary as a record of events completed by an individual to document experiences and feelings. A diary was given to the participants after the interview. Participants could write down their thoughts and feelings about the syringe

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driver, what-ever other information they deemed important something that they had forgotten to mention during the interviews. The same open-ended questions which were asked in the interviews were typed in English and in Afrikaans and pasted in the diary. Each diary had a pen attached to it. Participants were verbally informed that it was their choice to complete entries or not. The diaries were additional to the interviews and did not replace them.

Comparisons were made with diaries that were returned. Only three diaries out of the eight were returned (refer appendix 17). One family of three members were rushing to a prayer meeting and declined to accept the diary. Other participants said that they had said everything they wanted to say during the interviews. No reasons were provided for two diaries that were left untouched.