Abstract A30: Comparing mail-based and Internet population health assessment data: Survey implementation protocol

Abstract

Abstract Purpose of the Study: Traditionally, population-based health assessments have been conducted through resource intensive approaches such as in-person interviews and mail-based surveys. Newer information technologies have been developed for collecting survey data electronically (i.e., e-cohort approaches), which can be leveraged to recruit participants and collect survey data more efficiently than traditional studies. Funded by a National Cancer Institute P30 Supplement, the purpose of this study overall is to assess health practices and improve cancer prevention and control outreach within our cancer center’s catchment area. The purpose of this report is to describe procedures of this ongoing project collecting survey data through traditional and electronic methods. Methods: This study will administer a survey using two approaches to population health assessment. The first survey cohort will be obtained via a mail-based survey using traditional probability-based sampling methods. A second cohort will be recruited and assessed through technology-enabled methods. This e-cohort will be contacted using an Internet and mobile phone application adapted from the platform developed by Vibrent Health for the National Institutes of Health All of Us study. In addition to the survey responses, data from wearable devices and health service records data will be collected from participants of the e-cohort. Results: This protocol report will describe implementation procedures of an epidemiologic research study employing both conventional and novel approaches to survey administration. Upon completion of this study, results will provide metrics for comparing the methodologies, such as response rates and respondent characteristics (e.g., socio-demographics, medical history, and lifestyle behaviors) within and between each approach. Conclusions: Ultimately, results of this study will aid the development of future epidemiologic research studies by providing practical guidance for public health and survey researchers regarding traditional and electronic survey applications, and perhaps, novel insights from the complementary approach of using both survey research methodologies in tandem. Citation Format: Bernard F. Fuemmler, Carrie A. Miller, David Wheeler, Bassam Dahman, Tamas Gal, Sunny Kim, Bonnie Morris, Yaou Sheng, Gordon Ginder. Comparing mail-based and Internet population health assessment data: Survey implementation protocol [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Modernizing Population Sciences in the Digital Age; 2019 Feb 19-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A30.