Table 1.

Rationale for choice of questioning method about health and non-study drug treatment (28/52 respondents)

	Example quotes from respondents	Question method used in the study
		General enquiry only	Structured enquiry only	General and structured enquiry combination	Added pictures, diary, charts, collecting packets, showing sample drugs
Standardization of assessments or data capture (including historical use of a method in the research group)	“A systematic approach based on pharmacovigilance procedures developed by our collaborators”	x	x	x
	“We are used to that”
Specificity of data sought (seeking information about particular adverse events, malaria symptoms or drugs)	“We wanted to find out about specific symptoms and adverse effects”	x	x	x
	“The named drug questions targeted drugs of special interest”
Comprehensiveness of data sought (participant guidance, report clarification, overcoming barriers to reporting such as poor recall or ability to name medicines)	“To provide a clear understanding about what investigators are looking for and to be sure they capture all complaints from study participants”		x	x	x
	“To get more information which may have been missed during the initial interview”
Avoidance of suggestion	“Keeping questions open and not leading so that only events significant to the patient are reported”	x		x
Feasibility	“A simple screen [as the] main focus of the study was not safety/tolerability”	x	x	x
	“Appears simple and not complex”
Understand participants’ perceptions about health	“[To] know if [symptoms] are related to chronic disease or traditional belief”		x	x