Abstract
BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that survey methodology can greatly influence prevalence estimates for alcohol and illicit drug use. The aim of this article is to assess the effect of data collection modes on alcohol misuse and drug use reports by comparing national estimates from computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) and audio-computer-assisted self interviews (A-CASI).MethodsDesign: Two national representative surveys conducted in 2005 in France by CATI (n = 24,674) and A-CASI (n = 8,111).Participants: French-speaking individuals aged [18]–[64] years old.Measurements: Alcohol misuse according to the CAGE test, cannabis use (lifetime, last year, 10+ in last month) and experimentation with cocaine, LSD, heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy, were measured with the same questions and wordings in the two surveys.Multivariate logistic regressions controlling for sociodemographic characteristics (age, educational level, marital status and professional status) were performed. Analyses were conducted on the whole sample and stratified by age (18–29 and 30–44 years old) and gender. 45–64 years old data were not analysed due to limited numbers.ResultsOverall national estimates were similar for 9 out of the 10 examined measures. However, after adjustment, A-CASI provided higher use for most types of illicit drugs among the youngest men (adjusted odds ratio, or OR, of 1.64 [1.08–2.49] for cocaine, 1.62 [1.10–2.38] for ecstasy, 1.99 [1.17–3.37] for LSD, 2.17 [1.07–4.43] for heroin, and 2.48 [1.41–4.35] for amphetamines), whereas use amongst women was similar in CATI and A-CASI, except for LSD in the 30–44 age group (OR = 3.60 [1.64–7.89]). Reported alcohol misuse was higher with A-CASI, for all ages and genders.ConclusionsAlthough differences in the results over the whole population were relatively small between the surveys, the effect of data collection mode seemed to vary according to age and gender.
Highlights
More and more general population surveys using representative samples are attempting to assess adult drug use in European countries
A few months later, the Life Events and Health Survey (LEHS) was conducted, a face-toface interview survey mainly dealing with violence and including an audio computer-assisted self-administered section to assess licit and illicit drug use [2]
With respect to level of education, in the audio-computer-assisted self interviews (A-CASI) there were slightly fewer individuals with less than the Baccalaureat among 18- to 64-year-olds (33% versus 36% on the computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI)), this variable was part of the weighting process. This may be explained by differences in survey and weighting methods, the weighting process having been performed on the whole sample in each case (15–75 years old in Health Barometer (HB), 18–75 years old in LEHS)
Summary
More and more general population surveys using representative samples are attempting to assess adult drug use in European countries. The National Health Barometer (HB) is the primary source of information about prevalence, correlates, and trends in substance use and misuse in France [1] This survey collects data every five years from a nationally representative sample on patterns and correlates of licit and illicit drug use and related problems, with a focus on cannabis use. The questions in the two surveys were the same, based on the European Model Questionnaire elaborated in the late 1990s [3] Both surveys generated prevalence estimates for lifetime substance use and past-year substance use. The aim of this article is to assess the effect of data collection modes on alcohol misuse and drug use reports by comparing national estimates from computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) and audio-computer-assisted self interviews (A-CASI)
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