Table 3.

Focus group topics and key questions

Topic			Key questions
Past	Motivation	Q1	Why did you become microscopists?
Present	Job satisfaction	Q2	Are you satisfied with your job as microscopists? Why?
	Role	Q3	How many patients do you see per week in both dry and wet seasons?
		Q4	How many of your patients were diagnosed as having malaria per week in both dry and wet seasons?
	Problems	Q5	What kind of problems did you face while performing your job as microscopists?
		Q6	Do you think there are specific ethnic groups, age groups, sexes, or any kinds of people who are likely to receive your treatment? Are there any people who are not likely to receive it?
	Experience	Q7	Please tell me about your saddest experience working as microscopists.
		Q8	Please tell me about your happiest experience working as microscopists.
Future	Task shifting	Q9	Do you want to expand your job as microscopists? If yes, in which way and how if it is not for malaria?