title: A qualitative evaluation of the challenges faced by dieticians when interviewing children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Investigative interviewing is a critical and challenging skill involved in the assessment and design of appropriate interventions for children's dietary problems. The current study provided an evaluation of the challenges faced by professional dieticians when conducting child investigative interviews, in the hope that this would provide a framework for the development of further guidance and resources in this important area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen professional dieticians were interviewed; they were asked about the information that they needed to elicit from children in particular situations and the questions that they would ask to do so. They were also asked to describe the strengths and limitations of the techniques that they used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results revealed that professionals faced three main challenges. The first challenge was eliciting information from children who did not want to answer questions. The second challenge was determining the level of accuracy in children's (and caregivers') responses. The third challenge was eliciting very specific information in particular situations, such as determining the cause of an allergic reaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, professionals had difficulty articulating the questions that they would use to elicit the information that they required; indeed, their responses focused more on the content that they wanted to elicit (such as specific details) rather than the overall process that they would use to do so. Professionals may benefit from the development of guidelines to assist them in their interviews with children, based on what is currently known about interviewing children generally.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia. Electronic address: stefanie.sharman@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Stefanie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sharman
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia. Electronic address: martine.powell@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Martine B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia. Electronic address: helen.skouteris@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skouteris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002983:Clinical Competence; D000068598:Data Accuracy; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D064686:Nutritionists; D010349:Patient Compliance; D024382:Professional Role; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Children; Diet; Health professionals; Interview