| Abstrakt: |
Background: Medical research utilizes a lot of questionnaires, but their quality is highly variable and lacks consistent, rigorous standards such as the use of conceptual framework or any other systematic process for its development. Our aim was to apply an insight obtained from medical education to describe the process of designing and developing a questionnaire, through an exploratory process to capture various risk factors and determinants that are valid and relevant in construct, to improve the health of the community. Methodology: We followed a seven-step systematic process of questionnaire development following the Association of Medical Education of Europe Guidelines (Guide 87) with a few modifications, to explore the factors responsible for an outbreak of hepatitis B in the Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. Results: About half of the questions (51.1% [23/45 questions]) were obtained via literature review, 37.7% (17/45 questions) were obtained via focus group discussions, 11.1% (5/45 questions) were included, and 6.6% (3/45) questions were also omitted based on expert advice. Cognitive interviewing helped in clarifying questions related to electromyography, the appearance and bite - characteristic of a deerfly, and also the explanation of contact sports, in the transmission of hepatitis B. Conclusion: A well-designed questionnaire developed following a systematic process helps to achieve the research objectives, is easy for both interviewers and respondents to complete, provides complete and accurate information, and is designed with the very purpose of making sound analysis and interpretation possible. This project helped in dispelling the myths and bringing forth the facts associated with the hepatitis B outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
