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. Your conduct matters ๏ Project confidence & concern ๏ Speak slowly & enunciate clearly ๏ Avoid using jargon and acronyms ๏ Smile or convey a friendly attitude over the phone. 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.

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. 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 How did you get my name? How do I know you’re who you say your are? I’m on the do not call list. I don’t take calls from solicitors It’s okay, I’m his mother. Just ask me.

11. Answers to Tough Questions “ How did you get my name! ” Ill Persons: Laboratories and doctor ’ s offices report certain diagnoses to public health. From the event organizer Well Persons: From the event organizer Random sampling “ I don ’ t take calls from solicitors ” or “ I ’ m on the do not call list. ” Apologize and explain calling as part of public health investigation “ How do I know you ’ re who you say your are? ” Call back and hear voicemail Transfer to supervisor Call supervisor “ It ’ s okay. I ’ m his mother. Just ask me. ” If your son is over 18, I ’ ll need his permission to talk to you.

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?