Email-facilitated qualitative interviews with traumatic brain injury survivors: a new and accessible method.
OBJECTIVE
To trial the method of email-facilitated qualitative interviewing with people with traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Qualitative semi-structured email-facilitated interviews.


METHODS
Nineteen people (17 severe diagnosis) with a TBI participated in email interviews.


RESULTS
Findings indicate that this method facilitates the participation of people with TBI in qualitative interviews. Advantages include increased time for reflection, composing answers and greater control of the interview setting. In addition, the data indicates that people with a TBI are capable of greater insight, reflection and humour than indicated by previous research.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate that new technologies may advance data collection methods for people with cognitive-linguistic impairments who face participation barriers in face-to-face interviews.
Egan
Jennifer
J
School of Social Work & Applied Human Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. j.egan@social.uq.edu.au
Chenoweth
Lesley
L
McAuliffe
Donna
D
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003142:Communication; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000941:ethics; D026690:Ethics, Clinical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods*