Developing a safety protocol in qualitative research involving battered women.
Qualitative research involving battered women requires advanced planning to protect participants and the investigator from the risk of violence from an abusive partner. Domestic violence creates a potentially dangerous research environment that is seldom discussed in the literature. The use of a safety protocol has been advocated as a way to ensure that research is conducted with maximum safeguards for the participating women. In this article, the author presents a safety protocol developed for a study of battered women's perceptions of danger in their relationship. Issues that relate to safety contacting participants, conducting the interviews, and protecting data are discussed.
Langford
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Department of Family and Community Nursing, University of North Carolina at Charlotte 28223, USA. drlangfo@email.uncc.edu
D001294:Attitude to Health; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003219:Confidentiality; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000379:methods*; D016730:Program Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D012637:Security Measures / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*