Approaches to Decreasing Emotional Burden during Qualitative Interviews to Improve Data Quality and Participant Engagement
Author(s)
Leah Efferson1, Carrie K. Presnall, MS2, Christine Bradshaw, MA2, Elizabeth Merikle, PhD2;
1Fortrea, Durham, NC, USA, 2Fotrea Inc, Durham, NC, USA
1Fortrea, Durham, NC, USA, 2Fotrea Inc, Durham, NC, USA
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Qualitative interviews can be emotionally challenging and elicit feelings such as sadness, anxiety, and shame. Mitigating participants’ emotional burden during interviews is in accordance with research ethics and can improve data quality and participant engagement. The objective of this targeted literature review was to develop guidance for interviewers for decreasing participant emotional burden during interviews and enhancing data quality.
METHODS: Embase, Medline, PsycNet, and Google Scholar were searched from 1988 until November 2024. English language articles discussing approaches to handling participants’ emotions during interviews were included. Articles discussing the interviewer’s emotions or approaches before or after an interview were excluded.
RESULTS: Of the 54 articles identified, 25 were included for full text review. Five themes emerged: 1) Set the stage by reminding participants that they can skip questions or terminate the interview; 2) Lean into distressing emotions by asking direct questions about the emotions, allowing for silence, and thanking participants for talking through difficult emotions; 3) Direct interview away from negative emotions by offering breaks, asking non-distressing questions, and rescheduling the interview; 4) Direct interview toward positive emotions by encouraging participants to talk about hope and optimism; and, 5) Offer resources such as connecting participants with mental health professionals, suggesting who to contact within in a clinical study, offering to provide additional resources
CONCLUSIONS: Decreasing emotional burden during interviews is complex yet feasible, requiring flexibility, emotional attunement, and knowledge of professional resources. Empirical research is needed to support the development of evidence-based recommendations. This should include qualitative studies focused on eliciting interviewees’ perspectives about what techniques “work” for decreasing emotional burden using cognitive interviews or questionnaires. Guidance is needed to address specific ethical dilemmas that may arise during interviews within a clinical trial, such as reporting study partner distress or handling questions that result in emotional burden for participants.
METHODS: Embase, Medline, PsycNet, and Google Scholar were searched from 1988 until November 2024. English language articles discussing approaches to handling participants’ emotions during interviews were included. Articles discussing the interviewer’s emotions or approaches before or after an interview were excluded.
RESULTS: Of the 54 articles identified, 25 were included for full text review. Five themes emerged: 1) Set the stage by reminding participants that they can skip questions or terminate the interview; 2) Lean into distressing emotions by asking direct questions about the emotions, allowing for silence, and thanking participants for talking through difficult emotions; 3) Direct interview away from negative emotions by offering breaks, asking non-distressing questions, and rescheduling the interview; 4) Direct interview toward positive emotions by encouraging participants to talk about hope and optimism; and, 5) Offer resources such as connecting participants with mental health professionals, suggesting who to contact within in a clinical study, offering to provide additional resources
CONCLUSIONS: Decreasing emotional burden during interviews is complex yet feasible, requiring flexibility, emotional attunement, and knowledge of professional resources. Empirical research is needed to support the development of evidence-based recommendations. This should include qualitative studies focused on eliciting interviewees’ perspectives about what techniques “work” for decreasing emotional burden using cognitive interviews or questionnaires. Guidance is needed to address specific ethical dilemmas that may arise during interviews within a clinical trial, such as reporting study partner distress or handling questions that result in emotional burden for participants.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
PCR78
Topic
Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient Engagement
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas