Development and Implementation of an Internet Survey to Assess Community Health in the Face of a Health Crisis: Data from the Pregnancy and Birth Survey of the Fukushima Health Management Survey, 2016.

Hironori Nakano,Kayoko Ishii,Seiji Yasumura,Aya Goto,Keiya Fujimori,Tetsuya Ohira

doi:10.3390/ijerph16111946

Hironori Nakano, Kayoko Ishii + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16111946

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Abstract

The Pregnancy and Birth Survey of the Fukushima Health Management Survey is a questionnaire survey that has been conducted annually since 2011 in Fukushima Prefecture. Since 2016, the survey has been available online as well as in paper form. This study aimed to determine whether making the survey available online improved response rates and to identify the characteristics of paper and online survey respondents and their results. Using LimeSurvey, we constructed an online survey environment that enabled responses via computer or mobile device. Respondents could choose whether to respond on paper or online. The response rate for the 2016 survey was 51.8%, an increase of 3.5% over the previous year. Of these responses, 15.8% were made online. Online respondents were mostly primiparous. Further, while there was no difference in the percentage of respondents who provided free responses, the amount written was higher in paper surveys than in online surveys. The combination of paper and online surveys increased convenience for respondents and contributed to improved response rates. In addition, paper surveys were superior in terms of allowing respondents to express their feelings and opinions.

Highlights

On 11 March 2011, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan sustained major damage both from the Great EastJapan Earthquake and Tsunami and the resulting Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident.The plumes of radiation released by the explosion at the nuclear power plant were carried northward by wind and rain toward the most densely populated area of Fukushima Prefecture
Subjects residing in Fukushima Prefecture were mailed a Notice on the Questionnaire for Pregnancy and Birth Survey, an Online Response Instruction Form, a questionnaire booklet, and a Health Administration Survey for Prefectural Residents
The overall response rate increased by 3.5% over the previous year

Summary

Introduction

On 11 March 2011, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan sustained major damage both from the Great EastJapan Earthquake and Tsunami and the resulting Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident.The plumes of radiation released by the explosion at the nuclear power plant were carried northward by wind and rain toward the most densely populated area of Fukushima Prefecture. On 11 March 2011, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan sustained major damage both from the Great East. Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and the resulting Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident. The plumes of radiation released by the explosion at the nuclear power plant were carried northward by wind and rain toward the most densely populated area of Fukushima Prefecture. The Fukushima Prefecture government created the Fukushima Health Management Survey to assess the long-term effect of low-dose radiation exposure resulting from the accident [1]. Disasters generally affect a range of reproductive and birth outcomes and can lead to an increased risk of harmful situations, such as unplanned pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections [2]. Nuclear accidents, natural disasters such as hurricanes, Int. J. Public Health 2019, 16, 1946; doi:10.3390/ijerph16111946 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

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