With the recession continuing to bite in Europe, it’s perhaps no surprise that we’ve noticed a steady increase in the number of RfPs for research assignments from other regions, most notably the Middle East.
In fact, over the last 2-years, we have carried out a great deal of research in the Middle East and North Africa. Here are some tips for carrying out research in this part of the world!
- Make sure you get your weekends right: Thursday-Friday in Saudi Arabia, Friday-Saturday in most others, while Lebanon follows the Saturday-Sunday pattern!
- Many physicians across MENA are comfortable being interviewed in English or French (in Lebanon) having conducted most of their professional training in Europe or North America.
- With significant levels of medical tourism in hubs like Beirut and Amman, it is important to recognise that physicians’ caseloads in these areas may not always be representative of the local population.
- Though most generally have a good internet connections, MENA respondents often prefer to complete interviews face to face.