Effective Outbreak Interview Techniques

1. Interview Techniques • Instructor Name • Job Title • Organization Name

2. What will be covered • Purpose of interview • Preparing for the interview • Conducting an interview • Common Components of interviews • Trouble shooting

3. Purpose of the interview • The purpose of the interview is to: • To collect symptom information from ill persons • Identify additional ill persons • To collect exposure information from ill and well persons • Use this information to: • Characterize the outbreak • Identify the source of infection • Chose control measures to implement • Stop spread of disease • Prevent future outbreaks

4. Types of interviews • Phone • In-person • Individual interview • Group interview • Online Survey

5. Getting ready: The Supplies • Interview form • Disease-specific case investigation • Outbreak questionnaire • Shotgun questionnaire • Review and ask questions before beginning interviews • Calendar • Pen/pencil • Phone, headset • Don’t use your personal phone… or block your number • Water

6. Getting ready: The Situation • Be familiar with the disease in question • Incubation period • Routes of transmission • Signs and symptoms • Treatment • Circumstances of outbreak • Event • Food recalls • Media coverage

7. I’m calling about the campy FBI at the RFE. I’m investigating illness from a bacteria called campylobacter among coworkers who ate at the same restaurant. Your conduct matters • Project confidence & concern • Speak slowly & enunciate clearly • Avoid using jargon and acronyms • Smile or convey a friendly attitude over the phone.

8. Getting started on the phone • “This number does not take calls from solicitors” • Press 1 to prove you are a human • Enter your work number/CDPHE number • Leave messages • If agreed upon • If a private line • With general information and a call back number

9. Starting on the Right Foot • Introduce yourself and the agency • Explain the purpose of the call • Assure confidentiality • Provide an estimated length of time for the interview • Offer to call back at a better time • Obtain parental/guardian permission to interview minors

10. How did you get my name? I’m on the do not call list. It’s okay, I’m his mother. Just ask me. I don’t take calls from solicitors How do I know you’re who you say your are? Starting on the Right Foot • Introduce yourself and the agency • Explain the purpose of the call • Assure confidentiality • Provide an estimated length of time for the interview • Offer to call back at a better time • Obtain parental/guardian permission to interview minors

11. Answers to Tough Questions

12. Continuing on the Right Foot • Take time to answer interviewee’s questions and concerns upfront • Am I at risk of getting sick? • How do I protect my family from illness? • How long will it take to figure out the source? • Educate interviewee • How disease is transmitted • Preventing transmission • Handwashing • Staying home from work/school/child care • Vaccination • Completing medications as prescribed • Ask the interviewee to get a calendar

13. Conducting the interview • Move on to the questionnaire once rapport is established • Control the interview, redirect as needed • Guide interviewee through interview • Avoid leading questions • Take a matter-of-fact approach to sensitive questions, i.e. sexual activity, drug use, etc.

14. Collecting key information • Use questionnaire correctly: • Try not to skip any of the questions, even if they seem redundant • Mark an answer for every question • Yes No Don’t Know • Complete one questionnaire for each person

15. Collecting key information • Demographics • Age (likely to be age range for control calls) • Sex • County or city as needed • Ethnicity and race (May not be collected on control calls) • Primary Language

16. Collecting Symptom Information from Ill Persons • Onset date • Symptoms: Yes No Unknown • Duration • Still ill • Severity • Doctors visits • Emergency department visits • Hospitalizations • Treatment

17. Collecting a food history • Ask about foods eaten: • During incubation period of causative agent • During the suspected event • Tools: • Calendar: holidays, meals out • Menus from events • Food sources previously associated with agent • Remind the interviewee to stay within the incubation time period or event. • Include snacks, toppings, condiments, drinks • Be ready to clarify foods that the interviewee may not know by name.

18. Other Questions • Non-food exposures • Secondary cases • Willing to provide a stool specimen (if testing not done yet)

19. Wrapping up the interview • Have you asked all the questions on the form? • Clarify inconsistencies • Inform interviewee that you may need to call back to • Ask additional questions • Share new findings • Provide agency contact phone number for additional questions • Explain how results of investigation will be disseminated • CDC website • Report to event coordinator • Thank interviewee

20. Finishing up • Complete necessary documentation • All questions on interview form are answered and legible • Phone list indicates who you called • Turn in or file interview forms • Make sure all confidential information is locked before leaving • Avoid taking confidential paperwork with you

21. Questions?