Table 2 Reflection of the main Aboriginal BOABS Study researcher in Derby on dealing with participants in jealous relationships

Challenge

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Some times when I am working alongside with male or female participants I can pick up if there is jealousy amongst the partners. I need to follow up participants weekly, monthly, group session invitations, and for 6 and 12 month check-ups.

Solutions

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To respect them you have to try and work with the both of them equally together. This can mean having both present during sessions.

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I looked up the English dictionary, ‘jealousy’ (noun): ‘Unhappy feeling that someone you love loves someone. A feeling of being unhappy and upset because you think someone who you love is attracted to someone else.’

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All races experience jealousy. When I am working with countrymen [Aboriginal people] I know my place in my own relationship and so I know how not to cross boundaries with participants.

What does this mean for the BOABS Study?

1.

Being of Aboriginal descent, you kind of know about jealousy.

2.

If you (as a woman) call a male participant’s mobile/house phone you talk to the female first; explain who you are and what you do, so they know.

3.

If you are working with a male; you do the same. If the partner doesn’t like it they will tell you to your face, but most time they are okay with it.

4.

Sometimes you will sign someone up and their partner is non-Aboriginal (white person). They like to join with their partner to give up smoking. I tell them they can join up but not with the BOABS Study. He or she can go through the clinic system to get their NRT [nicotine replacement therapy] and they can still support each other.

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If you work alongside with your BOABS participant you have a better working relationship with them.

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And some time if you want to achieve something you just have to do a little bit extra to get there, like respecting their partner’s concerns.

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You will be fine, they will work with you.