Reaching hidden populations of drug users by privileged access interviewers: methodological and practical issues

Abstract

The methodological issues surrounding the use of a privileged access interviewer team to generate a network sample of drug users are examined. Traditionally network samples have tended to be used by qualitative researchers. Privileged access interviewing provides a mechanism for the application of a structured instrument to a network sampling model. In doing so some problematic issues in this area for structured methodology are overcome, reduced or standardized. The use of this method is appraised in terms of meeting the methodological requirements of the Drug Transitions study. The practical experiences of our group in using a privileged access interviewer team to interview more than 400 heroin users, many of whom were not in contact with treatment services, are discussed. This method is most appropriate for the quick collection of data, from diverse networks of drug users, by use of a structured instrument. Success is likely to be dependent on careful implementation. The ongoing monitoring of data quality is of particular importance, as is good management practice and the establishment of supportive and non exploitative relationships with the interviewer team.

Estudio de prevalencia del consumo de drogas en escolares de Enseñanza Básica, a través de la metodología de pares

“…Por otra parte, sí sabemos que hay una importante subdeclaración del consumo en todos los grupos etáreos por temor a la marginación o a recibir sanciones, y que según CONACE 12 la mayor parte de los escolares encuestados señaló que sus padres estarían muy molestos si supieran que su hijo consume drogas, entonces resulta fácil imaginar que la magnitud del consumo de drogas en escolares, especialmente bajo 14 años, está siendo subvalorada por los estudios tradicionales. Uno de los principales hallazgos de este estudio fue la precocidad del inicio del consumo, lo cual concuerda con otros estudios que han usado metodologías especiales para poblaciones ocultas [15][16][17][18][19] . La edad media de inicio al consumo de tabaco reportada por la encuesta mundial de tabaquismo en escolares de 7º básico a 1º medio fue de 12 años, con algunos casos particulares a los 10 años 22 , mientras que en el presente estudio los encuestados declararon un inicio del consumo a partir de los 7 años para el tabaco (7 a 14 años) y de los 8 años para el alcohol (8 a 14 años).…”

“…Existen metodologías especiales para evaluar "poblaciones ocultas", siendo una de las más conocidas la de "Entrevistadores de Acceso Privilegiado" (EAP) [14][15][16][17][18] . A comienzos de 2000 surgió en Chile la "Metodología de Pares" desarrollada como una adaptación de la metodología de EAP, a los estudios de prevalencia, demostrando ser efectiva para disminuir la subdeclaración del consumo de drogas [19][20][21] .…”

A comparison of privileged access interviewing and traditional interviewing methods when studying drug users in treatment

“…However, their most frequent function is as interviewers. With the aid of structured questionnaires, PAIs are able to collect great quantities of data over a limited period of time, from substantial numbers of drug users from various networks (Griffiths et al 1993). PAI is less costly than alternative methods, such as respondent-driven sampling (Platt et al 2006).…”

“…PAI has primarily been used in studies about illicit drug use (Griffiths et al 1993, Gossop 1995, Griffiths et al 1997, Kuebler and Hausser 1997, Albery et al 2000, Rhodes et al 2005. In this approach the researchers rely on insiders, privileged access interviewers (PAIs)-often people who are, or have been drug users themselves-to conduct interviews with individuals in their networks.…”

Citizens who inject drugs: the ‘Fitpack’ study

“…Firstly, trends in injecting related risk behaviour among the large numbers of 'hidden' Injectors may go undetected which is a concern because higher levels of drug related HIV risk behaviour have been found among non treatment as compared to treatment populations (Donoghoe et al, 1993;Lampinen et al, 1991). Secondly, information about the large numbers of drug injectors who are not known to treatment agencies is important to guide the development of more effective public health responses to the spread of blood-borne viral infections (BBVIs) such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C (Griffiths et al, 1993). Thirdly, research on agency and peer recruited samples with high 'ever in treatment' rates may reinforce some false public stereotypes about citizens who inject drugs which could undermine strategies which aim to reduce the harm associated with drug injecting.…”