title: The challenge of cross-cultural collaborative research: lessons learnt from a pilot case-crossover study of severe occupational hand trauma in the People's Republic of China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A pilot epidemiologic study was conducted in the People's Republic of China to assess the feasibility of applying the study protocol from a US case-crossover study on transient work-related exposures and the risk of an acute occupational hand injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Injured workers were recruited from a hand surgery center in Ningbo, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China. A structured face-to-face interview questionnaire was administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  156 workers with hand injury completed the study (73% men). The enrollment rate was 91%. Of those who refused participation, most indicated their reluctance was due to the requirement to sign the written consent form. Considerable variability was found among interviewers in ascertaining responses from participants to important exposure questions (21.3% v 97%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recommendations include the following: (1) exploring effective oral-consent protocols that reduce participant concern and still meet human participant protection requirements; (2) using non-physician interviewers; and (3) increasing the intensity and standardization of interviewer training.
authors: School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China. jin.kezhi@libertymutual.com
authors: Kezhi
authors: K
authors: Jin
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Lombardi
authors: Theodore K
authors: TK
authors: Courtney
authors: Gary S
authors: GS
authors: Sorock
authors: Melissa J
authors: MJ
authors: Perry
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Wang
authors: Youxin
authors: Y
authors: Liang
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects