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Table 2 Sample of open-ended questions in focus group discussion guides

From: Adolescents, parents and teachers’ perceptions of risk and protective factors of substance use in Moroccan adolescents: a qualitative study

Preamble

 After the team members introduced themselves, the moderator gave appropriate information about the study aims, and participants were informed about the tape-recording procedure and confidentiality. Then, a clear definition was communicated to participants regarding substances: “The three commonly used psychoactive drugs: alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit drugs that produce changes in mood, thinking, feeling, and/or behavior and can cause dependence.”

Open-ended questions used to map discussions and to identify substance use behaviors and the risk and protective factors in adolescents

 Adolescent questions:

  1. Can each one of you tell us about his (her) information about the dangers of substance use and whether he (she) uses any type of substances or has used them before?

  2. Can you tell us what are the (socio-ecological) factors that push teens to start using substances?

  3. Can you tell us what are the (socio-ecological) factors that prevent teens to start using substances?

 Parent questions:

  1. Can each one of you tell us about his or her knowledge about the dangers of substance use and whether your children or teenagers in general use them?

  2. In your opinion, what are the (socio-ecological) factors that push your children or teens in general to start using substances?

  3. In your opinion, what are the (socio-ecological) factors that prevent your children or teens in general to start using substances?

 Teacher questions:

  1. Can you tell us about the level of substance use among students and teenagers in general today?

  2. In your opinion, what are the (socio-ecological) factors that push teens to start using substances?

  3. In your opinion, what are the (socio-ecological) factors that prevent teens to start using substances?

  4. Can you tell us what the role of the school is in either increasing or decreasing substance use in adolescents?