Cross-cultural research: trying to do it better. 1. Issues in study design.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss a range of strategies to address the methodological and practical challenges in designing cross-cultural public health studies.


METHODS
The Mothers in a New Country (MINC) Study was an interview study of 318 Vietnamese, Turkish and Filipino recent mothers exploring their views of maternity care and the early months of motherhood. It was carried out in Melbourne between 1994 and 1997. Sampling, recruitment, retention and representativeness all pose problems for studies involving non-English-speaking background immigrant populations, as do selection, training and support processes for bicultural interviewers. These issues are discussed with reference to the strategies undertaken to tackle them in the MINC Study.


RESULTS
In the MINC Study, a systematic approach to sampling and recruitment, combined with a flexible and sensitive study protocol were largely successful both in achieving in adequate sample size and a largely representative study sample. Similarly, paying significant attention to the selection, training and ongoing support of the biocultural interviewers employed on the study contributed greatly to its successful completion and enhanced confidence in the study findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Both researchers and funders need to take seriously the implications of the many methodological and practical issues involved in designing sound cross-cultural public health studies. In particular, there are major implications for study costs and timelines. However, the benefits to be gained are significant.
Small
R
R
Centre for the Study of Mothers' and Children's Health, School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria. r.small@latrobe.edu.au
Yelland
J
J
Lumley
J
J
Rice
P L
PL
D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000592:standards; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D011634:Public Health; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D014739:Victoria; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology