Interviewing men on sensitive issues

Abstract

The body alterations of men with prostate cancer affect their sexual functioning and raise common issues for men with this disease. This study examines these issues with the use of in-depth interviewing to collect sensitive data. The intention here is not to report the findings of the main study but to discuss broad methodological and practical issues raised by the research method of in-depth interviewing. Interviews were conducted with 30 men with prostate cancer and it was found that access, sensitivity of the research topic, the environment and a number of psychological factors profoundly affected the interview process. The researcher’s position in the study is that of the interviewer but she is also a nurse by profession. The findings will have implications for future studies which utilise in-depth interviewing as a research method to collect sensitive data.

Key Words:

• in-depth interviewing
• research method
• prostate cancer
• men’s health
• cross-gender interviewing