Form 0990-0488 Focus Group Guide [All Respondent Categories]

Form Approved

OMB No. 0990-0488

Exp Date 3/31/26

Appendix E. Focus Group Guide

Obtain Verbal Informed Consent

We would like for you to review the informed consent at this point (hardcopy and/or projected on screen). We’ll give you a few minutes to read the form and ask any questions you may have. Please take a moment to review the form.

Note to focus group facilitator: When participants are done reading the consent form ask: do you have any questions for us? After questions are addressed by researchers, ask for verbal consent to be interviewed. Tell participants they can keep the form for future reference.

Introduction

Welcome and introduction of research team

Good morning/afternoon. My name is __________ and I am here with my colleague(s) ____________. We work at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) which is an institute within Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We thank you for taking the time to join us today.

Overview

We invited you to come here today to talk about personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as “PPE." We are particularly interested in learning about the driving factors and barriers to equitable PPE protection for female workers in your job and industry. Specifically, the use, knowledge, accessibility, availability, and acceptability of PPE are the subjects we will focus on.

Your feedback will guide us in developing a framework to assist employers with assessing PPE equity for female workers. Future projects will use the drafted framework to inform a broader toolkit that can be used to identify gaps and solutions to increase equitable, safe PPE for females in your industry. We will share what we learn with others in the scientific community and with industry organizations and PPE manufacturers. Again, the information shared will be deidentified.

Ground Rules

Today I am going to be facilitating this focus group. Over the next 60 minutes, I will ask you to consider a series of questions. Please think of this process as a conversation. Keep in mind that there are no right, or wrong answers and we want to hear what you have to say. We ask that you do not share anything we discuss here outside of the focus group, including descriptors of individual participants.

[IF VIRTUAL] At this point, I am going to turn my camera on so you can see me during the discussion. But there is no expectation for you to turn your camera on. This is your choice.

Note to focus group facilitator: Turn off default setting for online identifiers on virtual participant screens.

The questions we are asking today were derived from our previous research through literature, workshops, and responses from a federal register notice (FRN) we conducted. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. Your participation is voluntary, and you can decline participation at any time by leaving this meeting or simply remaining quiet during questions you do not want to answer.

Opening question/Icebreaker

First, let’s go around the room and introduce ourselves. Please tell us your identifier but do not disclose your name or the name of your organization. After you introduce yourself, please tell us about:

• The type of organization and industry in which you work

• Your job position and primary roles and responsibilities

• The length of time you have been working in your current job/industry

Thank you for sharing.

Before we begin, let me clarify two points. First, we understand that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the availability of some PPE. We are not necessarily seeking information on your experience(s) with PPE supply chain issues and associated shortages during the pandemic. We want to understand the ongoing health and safety challenges related to PPE for females. Second, we define “adequate PPE protection” as PPE that protects workers from the hazards identified in their work environment. Adequate protection includes factors such as selecting appropriate PPE for a given hazard, PPE that is the correct size and fit for each worker, and PPE users having training in proper PPE use and maintenance. Later, in the questionnaire, we will ask situations where you didn’t have adequate PPE protection. Please refer to this definition while answering those questions.

Thank you. Now we’ll begin the discussion.

QUESTIONS

Thank you for your interest in this study. Before our focus group begins, we would appreciate if you could fill this sheet out to the best of your ability. If you do not wish to provide an answer and/or do not have an answer, please leave blank or mark at the option of “Prefer not to answer.” Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

1. What is your current job? _________________________________

2. How many years have you worked this current job? _________

3. What jobs did you work in the industry before this? ___________________________

4. How many years have you worked in this industry? _________

5. Which of the following gender best describes you?

Male _____ Female _____ Prefer not to answer _____

6. What is your age?

<30 ______ 30-39 _____ 40-49 _____ >=50 ______ Prefer not to answer ______

7. What is the socioeconomic level of the community you provide work/service?

Low socioeconomic community ______

Mid socioeconomic community _____

High socioeconomic community ______

Prefer not to answer ______

8. Which of the following best describes the area you serve/work?

Urban _____ Suburban _____ Rural ______ Prefer not to answer ______

9. What is the highest level of education you have completed?

Some high school, no diploma _______

High school diploma or GED _______

Some college, no degree _______

Associate (2-year) degree _______

Bachelor’s (4-year) degree _______

Master’s degree _______

Doctorate degree _______

Prefer not to answer _______

10. Which of the following best describes your employment status?

Employed full time _____

Employed part time _____

Contractor ______

Student/Trainee ______

Retired/Unemployed ______

Prefer not to answer _______

11. Have you ever been involved in a work-related accident, injury, illness?

Yes _____

No _____

Prefer not to answer ______

Introductory questions

1. We would like to understand your view of PPE in general – why do you either think or not think PPE is important on the job?

2. Tell me about the different types of PPE you use as a part of your job.

   1. Out of the PPE you just described what do you feel is most important to your health and safety? And, least important?

   2. In general, how often do you wear the PPE required and/or recommended for your job?

   3. What are some reasons that you may not wear the required and/or recommended PPE?

3. Are you involved in the selection of PPE at your workplace?

   1. Who selects PPE at your workplace?

   2. How often do new employees get “used PPE” or PPE are “handed down” to them?

   3. Are you able to share feedback about PPE at your workplace?

   4. Can you share an example of how your feedback was used to change PPE selection?

4. What do you like most about your PPE?

[Probing/redirect questions when needed]

• Is there a type of PPE you like?

• Is that a specific model or manufacturer?

• Why do you like it?

5. What do you dislike most about your PPE?

   1. For the PPE you dislike, what would you change if you could?

[Probing/redirect questions when needed]

• Is there a type of PPE you dislike?

• Is that a specific model or manufacturer?

• Why do you dislike it?

6. If it is applicable to you, please describe a situation where you felt you needed additional or different PPE.

[Probing/redirecting questions]

• That sounds challenging. What did you do?

• Did this experience impact your health or safety?

• That sounds like a difficult situation. Can you tell us more about why you needed more XXXX?

• It sounds like you are describing a situation where different PPE was needed. Is that correct?

Identifying gender-specific PPE issues

“Okay. So, we’ve talked a bit about general PPE challenges in the workplace. Now I’d like to discuss PPE challenges in the workplace that may be related to gender”

7. Describe a situation when you didn’t have adequate PPE compared to men in your job/industry/organization. [Note, if they can’t think of one, they can describe a scenario of a coworker or peer]

   1. What did you do in this situation? (e.g., not wear PPE or wear ill-fitting PPE etc.)

   2. If you are the only woman or one of few women, how easily do you think you bring up any problems with PPE?

   3. How do you believe this experience impacted your immediate or future health or safety?

[If no example is given]

Okay, it sounds like we don’t have an example here, so we’re going to move on to our next question. If you think of an example later, please let me know. We might come back to this question at the end.

8. In your opinion, does the PPE that is currently available meet the needs of women where you work? Why?

   1. What main challenges do women (or your organization) face when using PPE in the workplace?

9. In terms of the unmet needs that we just discussed, what do you think are some of the reasons?

10. If it is applicable to you, please describe a situation where your PPE interfered with your ability to perform your job.

Industry-/job-/organization-specific factors affecting PPE use

11. Now, we would like to understand your industry-, job-, and/or organization-specific features or characteristics that make difficult or possible for female frontline workers to have adequate PPE protection.

    1. What are some features specific to your job or where you work that make it difficult for women to have PPE that works for them?

    2. What are some features specific to XXX [place the industry name] that make it difficult for women to have PPE that works for them?

12. In your organization, are there diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies (i.e., is it mentioned in your organization’s strategic plan)? [MANAGERS ONLY]

    1. In your opinion, how do the organization’s DEI strategies affect PPE equity issues for female workers?

Follow-up question

13. Are there any specific populations among the female workforce that experience more challenges in getting adequate PPE in your job, organization, and/or industry?

    1. What are some reasons why those populations are more affected?

Is there anything else that you feel I should have asked, or that you would like to add?

That’s all the questions I have.

If we have additional or clarifying questions, can we contact you again? If so, we will verify your contact information.

Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us and for a great conversation.

* This template is based on a previous NIH Protocol Template for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Involving Humans. It maintains much of the content and structure of the NIH template but has been tailored to CDC/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health research.