Perspectives of an international sample of adults with Trichotillomania on the acceptability and feasibility of an asynchronous qualitative email interview method

Purpose

Trichotillomania (TTM) is characterised by the recurrent pulling out of one’s own hair, resulting in hair loss. It is a poorly understood disorder with no consensus on aetiology or epidemiology. Nested within a larger qualitative study exploring a wide range of TTM topics, the aim of this paper is to report and consider participant views on the acceptability and feasibility of the asynchronous email interview method.

Method

Cross-cultural qualitative research on TTM is sparse; therefore, an international qualitative study with a geographically diverse sample was conducted using an asynchronous email interview method.

Results

Participant perspectives highlighted three themes related to the study method: the value in creating personal connections, cathartic reflections, and perceived strengths and weaknesses. This paper highlights the potential of the asynchronous email interview method for sustaining remote research across multiple locations, using a sample of 20 adults with TTM (18–55 years) from 15 different countries.

Conclusions

This was an acceptable and feasible method for data collection, facilitating remote access while yielding rich data from an often hidden and hard-to-reach population.