Interviews were completed as close to the 6-month
time point as possible, and a telephone protocol followed.
When there was difficulty making telephone
contact, calls were attempted at different times of day
and during evenings and weekends. Although no more
than two answering machine messages were left when
calls were unanswered, further attempts to contact participants
were made using designated second and third
contact numbers (obtained at recruitment) which were
tried where required. When women indicated plans to
return to work prior to the 6-month interview, we asked
about convenient times to attempt contact for interviewing.
Where phone contact was repeatedly unsuccessful,
or the given telephone number disconnected, email was
used to request contact to arrange an interview.