title: Interviewing people about potentially sensitive topics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper explores the challenges of interviewing people about sensitive topics. It uses existing literature and the first author's experience of interviewing women traumatised by having an emergency hysterectomy following a severe postpartum haemorrhage. It also highlights the strategies that can assist interviews.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Interviewing participants about sensitive topics requires skill and special techniques. Certain research topics have the potential to cause participants and researchers distress and discomfort. Identifying ways to prevent vicarious traumatisation and researcher burnout is imperative to the integrity of the research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty one Australian women took part in in-depth, tape-recorded, face-to-face, email, internet and telephone interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a methodology paper on the first author's experience of interviewing women on potentially sensitive topics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some participants may find telling their stories to be cathartic, providing them with a sense of relief. Implementing techniques that may be helpful in initiating the interview process can be challenging.
authors: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Australia. r.elmir@uwa.edu.au
authors: Rakime
authors: R
authors: Elmir
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: Schmied
authors: Debra
authors: D
authors: Jackson
authors: Lesley
authors: L
authors: Wilkes
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research / Q000379:methods*