IJCSAug 2018
IJCSAug 2018
IJCSAug 2018
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Review and Mapping of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services in Malaysia View project
KULLIYYAH OF NURSING, IIUM , KUANTAN AND FACULTY OF NURSING, CMU, THAILAND MOBILITY PROJECT 2016 View project
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ABSTRACT
The protection of human subjects through the application of appropriate ethical principles is important in
all research study. In a qualitative study, ethical considerations have a particular resonance due to the in-
depth nature of the study process. The existing ethical guidance for undertaking qualitative research often
provide general guidelines rather than focusing on how to apply it in practice, particularly when
interviewing vulnerable group of women. The aim of this paper is to present my own experience of
conducting 33 individual face to face interviews on the women’s experience of postnatal depression across
three different cultural backgrounds in Malaysia. This paper reflects on the strategies that can be adopted
by a qualitative researcher to ensure that their participants’ identity is protected throughout recruitment
and dissemination process, to deal with participants from different cultural backgrounds, and to handle and
manage distress during interview. The consideration of ethical issues is crucial throughout all stages of
qualitative study to keep the balance between the potential risks of research and the likely benefits of the
research.
KEYWORDS: Ethical, Principles, Qualitative
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Volume 16 Number 1, June 2017
International Journal of Care Scholars 2018;1(2)
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION Upon approval from the SREC, the ethical approval
from the Malaysian National Institute of Health
Since the eligible participants (women with Research (NIHR) and MREC were applied through
postnatal depressive symptoms) were contacted online registration with the Malaysian National
through phone to know their decision whether or Medical Research Register (NMRR). Prior to this
not to participate in the interview study, proper application, permission from the respected
safeguards were taken. There were a few cases authorities of the study sites was first sought.
where the phone call was answered by the third Therefore, application letters were sent to the
party (husband/ mother). In this situation, I did Director of Hospital Kuala Lumpur, and the
not expose details of the study. Instead, I Director of Health Department of Federal Territory
explained that the purpose of the phone call was Kuala Lumpur.
to follow up the information that had been given
during the previous visit to the respective clinic. I Upon getting the permission from the respected
left the contact number with that person and authorities of each study site, the online
asked for a better time to call back. application was submitted. The process of
application was monitored at the NMRR website.
INTERVIEW SESSION The final decisions were notified by the MREC
through email to inform the status of the
Each interview was conducted individually in a application. Approval from the Economic Planning
private and quiet room in the respective clinic or Unit, Department of Prime Minister Malaysia was
participant’s home without access by outsiders. I also sought to obtain the research pass as this
am the only one who should be able to match the research was an application to conduct research
identity of the participants and voice recordings. from outside Malaysia.
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISSEMINATION OF THE Initially, only five MCH clinics were selected and
FINDINGS approved by MREC. However, after almost three
months in fieldwork, there were fewer numbers of
Data transcribing was conducted in a private room Indian women participating in the study due to a
using earphones to avoid the possibility of low rate of attendance in the five selected MCH
recordings being heard by other people. The clinics. For this reason, an approval to increase
identities of the participants were removed during the number of clinics had been made through
data transcription, including their names or any online application at NMRR website. Three MCH
significant aspect of identity. In presenting the clinics were added. Upon getting this approval, I
findings of the study, the participants were started visiting the newly selected clinics and
referred to by their pseudonym names in the looking, mainly, for Indian participants. At the end
verbatim quotes. of the fourth month of the study period, it was
decided that there were no more new concepts
Written consent or any document which contains emerging, therefore the data collection stage was
the participants' personal detail was kept in a ended. These experiences made me reflex that
locked cabinet with no access to anyone other obtaining ethical approval is not always a
than myself. This personal information will be straightforward process, instead it requires some
destroyed in accordance with the University of modifications along the study period.
Stirling research governance procedures.
DATA PROTECTION
Participants were however, notified that their
actual age would be used for the purpose of Interview Stage
reporting the data from the interview (4). Data
were shared with the other two qualitative Data analysis was conducted simultaneously with
researchers for the purpose of reaching the data collection. I transcribed and analysed the
agreement of the interpretation without exposing data independently. The data was shared with two
the participants’ details at any interim stage. The qualitative researchers.
access of the supervisors to the data was
explained to the participants and their consent Data were stored in encrypted devices and
regarding this matter was obtained. password protected. As for the purpose of cross
checking in data analysis, the transcripts were
This project adhered to the University of Stirling shared with two qualitative researchers through
Code of Good Research Practice. The University of password protected email. The information
Stirling has adopted the Model Publication Scheme storage on the university computer, personal
(MPS) for Scottish Higher Education Institutions computer or laptop, hard disk and memory sticks
(HEIs), which has been developed by Universities were protected by using passwords that were only
Scotland. This MPS was approved by the Scottish held by me (4). Hard copies or written materials
Information Commissioner on 25 March 2004 (5). of the data were kept in a secured cabinet in a
Overall responsibility for this Publication Scheme locked room with no access to others to ensure
resides with the University. No participants adherence to legal requirements (6) and ethical
identifying information will be included in reports guidelines. Both written and electronic data from
or publications arising from this project. this study will be stored for five years. However,
the interview recordings will be disposed once
ETHICAL APPROVAL AND ACCESS TO they are no longer needed.
PARTICIPANTS
I was aware that any unexpected adverse event
The ethical approval was sought and granted from which was caused by this study should be reported
two main research ethics committees: The School to the MREC and the SREC, School of Health
Research Ethics Committee (SREC) in the School Science, University of Stirling. However, no such
of Health Science, University of Stirling and the event occurred throughout the study period. The
Malaysian Medical Research Ethics Committee results of the study will be reported and
(MREC). disseminated through peer reviewed scientific
journals, conference presentations, thesis
dissertation, university library and written
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International Journal of Care Scholars 2018;1(2)
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