Telephone interviews in rural Kerala: Challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Telephone interviews (TIs) are essential for qualitative data collection when geographical and physical separation between respondents and interviewers exists, as experienced due to the social distancing measures of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explores the challenges faced by doctors employed as researchers at a homeopathic medical college during the COVID-19 pandemic while conducting TIs in Chottanikara, a rural village in Kerala, India. Researchers interviewed participant investigators (henceforth referred to as interviewed researchers, abbreviated as IRs) who had conducted COVID-19-related TIs with previous study participants (PSPs). Although PSPs were generally cooperative, difficulty in collecting accurate phone numbers of all the PSPs, unattended calls, problems in conveying required information, and social desirability bias emerged as significant challenges in the study. Despite these limitations, TIs remain a valuable method for qualitative data collection. Their effectiveness can be improved by complementing them with information from local health workers, residents’ associations, local self-government representatives, and close relatives or neighbors of respondents. Such strategies enhance data accuracy and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the context.