STRUCTURE OF DATA COLLECTION METHODS

5.3.1 Interviews

The interviews were semi-structured and open-ended allowing for the researcher to add any questions if clarification was required. Furthermore, this interview type allows the interviewees to be able to relate stories about their care giving

93 experiences which aided the researcher in understanding the environment they work in better. If questions are open-ended and the interview is semi-structured they give the interviewee an opportunity to talk as the questions encourage reflection. This allows interviewees to share insights which they would not have been able to share if the interview was close-ended and fully structured.

The interview questions (attached as appendix A) were divided into three aspects that affect the community healthcare worker, viz. social, environmental and technical.

The aim of each aspect is discussed below:

- Social aspect: The social aspect of the interview aimed at understanding the CHCWs better through knowledge of their demographic information and also their computer and mobile device knowledge.

- Environmental aspect: The environmental aspect aimed at understanding the working activities involved in a CHCW‟s day and the environmental factors they were faced with while in the field collecting the data using either paper-based systems or mobile phones.

- Technical aspects: The technical aspect intended to understand what factors were experienced by the CHCWs when carrying out their activities using a mobile phone and what advantages or disadvantages are there to using mobile phones for data capturing. In the case of when the CHCWs were using paper-based systems, the aim was to understand their perceived thoughts on the use of mobile phones for capturing data.

5.3.1.1 Sampling techniques

Purposive and convenience sampling were applicable to this research study due to the fact that the interviewees who were selected were based on their ability and availability to help the researcher answer their research questions and meet their objectives. Six CHCWs who were available and able to help the researcher were selected by the matron of the haven for the interviews. The six interviews were carried out over two days (three interviewees per day).

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5.3.1.2 Structure of interviews

Interview times ranged from 40 minutes with the longest lasting 105 minutes. The interviews were conducted in private areas in the CHCWs‟ environment with only the researcher, assistant and the CHCW present to ensure that the CHCW was comfortable enough to answer the questions.

Before asking the interview questions, the details of the consent form (attached as appendix B) were discussed and if the CHCW was willing to participate in the research study he/she would sign the consent form and the interview would commence. The interview was recorded on a voice recorder. After each interview the researcher would switch off the voice recorder and have a debriefing session with the interviewee in which they would talk to the researcher about other comments they would like to add, which they did not want to be recorded. The purpose of the debriefing session was to enhance the researcher‟s understanding but this data from the debriefing discussion could not be used.

5.3.1.3 Capturing of interview results

The recorded interview data was translated from isiXhosa to English and transcribed in English. The data from each CHCW was labelled; i.e. interviewees A-F. This ensured that each interviewee would not be identifiable and would remain anonymous in the research and make it easier for the purposes of the feedback.

5.3.1.4 Limitations and problems experienced during interviews

Distraction

Even though the interviews were conducted in private, the CHCW would sometimes be distracted by other workers entering to request help from them.

95 The interview questions were constructed in English, however, during the interviews it was realised that it was easier for the CHCWs to understand the questions in Xhosa. Therefore, the questions were asked in Xhosa when it seemed as if a CHCW could not understand the question in English.

Interview times and days

Sometimes the CHCWs are not available on certain days and therefore it was difficult to arrange the interview schedule as it depended on the availability of the CHCW.

5.3.2 Observations

The observations were carried out in the home community based care environment in which the CHCWs carry out their daily duties. The researcher observed the CHCWs as they visited patients so that their work and their environment could be understood through exposure to the actual environment. Both the CHCW and the patient had to give consent before the researcher could observe the CHCWs.

5.3.2.1 Sampling technique

Two sets of observations were carried out, one in the paper-based environment and one in the paper-less environment. The observations for the paper-based environment were carried out on the second day of the visit to the care haven after the second group of interviews were concluded. Two CHCWs were observed for the paper-based environment. The sampling that was applicable for the paper-based environment observation was convenience sampling as the CHCWs who were observed were the only ones visiting patients on the day.

Three organizations were contacted during the research to find a suitable case study environment where mobile phones are used for data collection. Unfortunately none of the organizations agreed to allow the researcher to use them as a case study. Therefore the researcher developed a mobile application with Episurveyor,

96 discussed in section 4.3.2, which was used in the Emmanuel Haven and five CHCWs were trained on using the mobile application.

The observations for the paper-less environment were carried out after training was concluded and three CHCWs were observed while using mobile phones to collect patient data. Convenience sampling was also applicable for the paper-less environment as the matron selected the observation participants for the researcher to observe in the home community based care environment while they tended to patients as they were the only available ones. The CHCWs who were selected were the most accessible at the time as they were the only CHCWs that were going out for home visits when the researcher was there. In total, five CHCWs were observed (two in the paper-based environment and three in the paper-less environment). All the people who were observed were the same people from the pool of six people who were originally interviewed.

5.3.2.2 Structure of observation

Observation of the CHCWs lasted for approximately 30 minutes per visit. Patients who allowed the researcher to enter their homes and observe the CHCW were required to sign consent forms which gave permission for the researcher to be in their homes. The observations were recorded on video. Both the CHCW and the patient had the option to participate in the video or not and to have their faces shown or hidden through digital video manipulation.

5.3.2.3 Data capturing

The observations that were conducted with the CHCWs were recorded on a video camera. Field notes were also made by the researcher during the observations.

97 No problems were experienced with the data collection during the observation period.

The process to analyse and interpret the data in order to gain a consolidated list of factors affecting the use of mobile devices for remote data collection in home- community based care is described in sections 5.4 – 5.7. The description is structured according to phases as follows:

Phase 1: Factors from literature Phase 2: Factors from interviews Phase 3: Factors from observations Phase 4: Consolidated list of factors

As explained in Chapter 2, directed content analysis was used to analyse the data. Directed content analysis requires that literature be used as a base for the analysis of the data gathered.