Safety Protocols for Face to Face interviewing in times of COVID-19

MRTS Consulting follows the recommendations from ESOMAR to practice in our research projects that are involved in face-to-face interviewing during COVID-19 outbreak in Cambodia.

The practices are implementing in order to protect the research workforce and members of the public. However, this will vary depending on the nature of the project.

Regular COVID-19 testing of all staff/interviewers facing members of the public.
The interviewers who have a high temperature and/or a cough are self-isolating.
Provision of and comprehensive use of face masks by interviewers, and the medical grade of these masks.
In some circumstances, the interviewers have to provide sealed masks to respondents for use within the interview, depending on the nature of the project.
Provision of and comprehensive use of hand sanitizer and secure waste disposal.
Interviewers wash their hands before and after every interview.
Practice the Social distancing.
Interviewers are instructed not to shake hands or to have any physical contact with any respondent.
Minimize cross contamination by not providing or accepting any refreshments.
Clean the interviewing equipment that are used in field.
Use of virtual approaches (video) to brief interviewers.
Contact respondents by telephone or other means in order to ascertain agreement to be interviewed in order to avoid negative reactions and responses around the COVID-19 situation.
The pre-screening questionnaire of the issues of COVID-19, for example, to eliminate any households who are self-isolating, where anyone has suffered symptoms within the last 2 weeks, where any household member has a temperature or a cough, or any of the currently identified COVID-19 symptom list.
The interviews are not carried out in the following areas/groups;
- Geographic areas which have a high incidence of COVID-19 or that are currently under strict lockdown conditions.
- Areas which are close to hospitals, healthcare units, or public spaces where it is not possible to maintain social distancing.
- Amongst groups of individuals who are likely to be immunocompromised. For example; elderly groups, pregnant women, individuals who have life threatening conditions.