Yeah, I’d say obviously certain questions that they do ask are quite personal, you know, some people are a bit reluctant to answer those, you know?

What kind of questions would that be?

You know, for example, you know, like you were talking about people’s private lives and all that. Certain people, I’m not saying everybody, but some people are a bit reluctant to talk about their private life and everything like that, you see, so they might want it to be, you know, explained in a different way for example.

So that’s where, you know, I think [cohort study name] might have to look into and think, We may have to look at the way we’ve worded stuff or like the way this questionnaire is it could be that these questions could be a bit sensitive to the patien, for example, and they might not want to answer that – so we might have to look at the wording of that, the structure of tha and then obviously that might help, on a positive note improve the information. I don’t know what the results but I’m just thinking that it’s, some people are quite open, and they’ll just answer it, like myself. But some people are a bit reluctant because they think even though it’s all data protection and everything’s private and confidential – still they have that in the back of their mind, do I really want to answer that question?’ Do you know what I mean?

Yeah.

But then again, I’ve seen on the questionnaires, it says, if you don’t want to say, prefer not to say, you don’t have to say but then it says that if you, I think on one of the questionnaires, it was saying that if you don’t answer them then we might not get an accurate result.

Okay.

You know what I mean, so? It like contradicts itself in a sense, where you’re saying, Look, okay, don’t answer it, but then if you don’t answer it, if you prefer not to say, you’re not giving it here, like if you don’t answer it, yes or no for example then, you know, the results are not going to be- you know.

So, there’s like a little bit of pressure to

Pressure, yeah, yeah, yeah, I think yeah. So, I think that they could look into that and change that particular aspect.

So, can you think of an example of a question that you think may be uncomfortable answering?

I think, for example, like their religious belief. I think some people are a bit reluctant to talk about that, might have a bit of an aspect of, Why do I need to answer that question?’ you know what I mean? I’m quite open about that but I think, some people think if I answer that question, Oh look, is that going to differentiate me in any way’, and I think another question maybe, What’s your origin?’ I think sometimes they may be thinking, if I mention that they might think, oh, just targeting certain areas. So even though I’ve always answered it myself, I’m just saying that some people may feel a bit uncomfortable with that. Or even talking about whether or not the family members have had a certain condition, you know, or an illness.

But I think, Why are you asking that?’ is the thing. I think that’s the most important thing, I think if someone knows why they’re asking it then they’re going to be more comfortable giving an answer. But if you’re just saying, Oh look, we want to know if you’re this, this and this?’ and I’m thinking, Well that’s quite a delicate or sensitive matter, why do you want to know that?’ And they’re obviously having to think about, Well, why are they asking me these questions?’ I think, like you said, if they’re given information like prior, that this is what we need it for then I think the person will be more assured.