Original Research ArticleInternational Journal of Research in Medical Sciences

Publication:
Challenges and opportunities in mixed method data collection on mental health issues of health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic in India

Int J Res Med Sci. 2022;10(4):838-844.DOI10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20220974

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Abstract

Background The present paper describes the key challenges and opportunities of mixed method telephonic data collection for mental health research using field notes and the experiences of the investigators in a multicenter study in ten sites of India. The study was conducted in public and private hospitals to understand the mental health status, social stigma and coping strategies of different healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

Methods Qualitative and quantitative interviews were conducted telephonically. The experiences of data collection were noted as a field notes/diary by the data collectors and principal investigators.

Results The interviewers reported challenges such as network issues, lack of transfer of visual cues and sensitive content of data. Although the telephonic interviews present various challenges in mixed method data collection, it can be used as an alternative to face-to-face data collection using available technology.

Conclusions It is important that the investigators are well trained keeping these challenges in mind so that their capacity is built to deal with these challenges and good quality data is obtained.

Keywords

Affiliations

  1. ICMR, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  2. ICMR, National Institute for Research in Tribal Health (ICMR-NIRTH), Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
  3. ICMR, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  4. ICMR, National Institute of Medical Statistics, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
  5. Division of Non-Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
  6. Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
  7. Department of Psychiatry, Believers Church Medical College, Tiruvalla, Kerala, India
  8. ICMR, National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
  9. ICMR, National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  10. ICMR, National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi, India
  11. ICMR, Regional Medical Research Centre, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
  12. Department of Psychology, Martin Luther Christian University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India
  13. ICMR, Regional Medical Research Centre, N.E. Region, Lahowal, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
  14. Department of Community Medicine, Seth G. S. Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, India
  15. P. D. Hinduja Hospital and MRC, Mahim, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  16. Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
  17. Department of Public Health, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India
  18. ICMR, Regional Occupational Health Centre-South, National Institute of Occupational Health, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  19. Department of Psychiatry, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

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