Landline Phone Research Articles

Comparison response patterns on landline and cell phone in a call back survey: effects of demographic characteristics and lag days.

The Asthma Call-back Survey (ACBS) is conducted after the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey by calling BRFSS respondents who reported ever being diagnosed with asthma. To find response patterns and increase ACBS response rates, we first examined whether obtaining consents during the BRFSS survey could increase call back response rates by reducing the refusal and break-off. Then, we assessed how the lag days between BRFSS and ACBS interviews affected response rates. BRFSS cell phone respondents agreed more often to being called back than did landline respondents (75.5 vs. 70.9 percent). However, when respondents were contacted for ACBS, the cell phone response rate was lower than landline response rate (43.4 vs. 47.0 percent), except among males aged 25–34 years, for which the cell phone response rate was 2.1 percent higher than the landline response rate. ACBS response rate for landline and cell phone response were highest if the callback was within 2 days of BRFSS interviews (92.3 vs. 88.8 percent). As lag days increased, the response rate decreased. The cell phone response rate showed a sharper drop; after 2 weeks, the response rate gap between landline and cell phone samples reached 17.3 percent.

An outbreak of hepatitis A in Canada: The use of a control bank to conduct a case-control study.

An outbreak of 18 cases of hepatitis A virus infection across five Canadian provinces was investigated. Case onsets occurred between October 2017 and May 2018. A retrospective matched case-control study was conducted to identify the likely source of the outbreak. Three matched controls were recruited for each case using a previously established control bank, supplemented by landline and cell phone call lists. Univariate and multivariate matched analyses were conducted to identify a potential outbreak source. Seventy-two per cent of controls were recruited through the control bank, and required on average 25.5 calls per recruited control; 20% of controls were recruited through a landline sample and 8% of controls were recruited through a cell phone sample, requiring an average of 847.3 and 331.7 calls per recruited control, respectively. Results of the analysis pointed to shrimp/prawns (odds ratio (OR) 15.75, p = 0.01) and blackberries (OR 7.21, p = 0.02) as foods of interest, however, an outbreak source could not be confirmed. The control bank proved to be a more efficient method for control recruitment than random call lists. Expanding the control bank size and using alternative methods, such as online surveys, may prove beneficial for increasing the timeliness of a case-control study during an outbreak investigation.

Anti-smoking social norms are associated with increased cessation behaviours among lower and higher socioeconomic status smokers: A population-based cohort study.

BackgroundSocial denormalisation of smoking can provide an environment that helps smokers to quit. This study examined which of three measures of anti-smoking social norms have the greatest influence on quitting-related cognitions and behaviours, and if this influence differs according to socioeconomic status (SES).MethodsThe Victorian Tracking Survey measured social norms among 1,348 (n(weighted) = 1,373) Australian adult smokers (aged 18–59) between 2012 and 2014, who were followed-up one week later. Weighted logistic regression analyses examined prospective associations of baseline subjective (family and friends’ disapproval of smoking), injunctive (feeling embarrassed about being a smoker) and descriptive norms (living with someone who tried to quit in the past 12 months), with quitting-related cognitions and behaviours at follow-up. Data were weighted to account for telephony status (landline or mobile phone), sex and age. Analyses were adjusted for demographic characteristics, addiction level, tobacco control policies and quitting-related outcomes measured at baseline. Differences in associations between lower and higher SES smokers (based on educational attainment and area-based disadvantage) were examined through interaction terms and stratified analyses.ResultsSixty-four percent of participants (n(weighted) = 872) perceived disapproval from family and friends, 31% (n(weighted) = 419) felt embarrassed to be a smoker, and 11% (n(weighted) = 155) lived with a recent quitter. All three norms were associated with having set a firm date to quit in the next month and with engaging in smoking limiting behaviours. Embarrassment was also associated with an increased likelihood of talking about quitting and with making a quit attempt. Associations were mostly comparable for lower and higher SES smokers, with no significant negative rebound effects overall or among subgroups.ConclusionsThese findings indicate close others’ disapproval and feelings of embarrassment most strongly motivate smokers to try to quit. If tobacco control policies or media campaigns further denormalise smoking, there should be no reason for concern that such denormalisation undermines cessation behaviours.

Within-Household Selection and Dual-Frame Telephone Surveys: A Comparative Experiment of Eleven Different Selection Methods

Numerous within-household selection methods have been tested in general population surveys since the advent of telephone interviewing. However, very few selection studies, if any, have been conducted with a dual frame (landline and cell phone) sample. Landline and cell phone frames are known to represent demographically different groups of respondents, and selection methods that may result in more representative demographics in a landline frame may actually skew the results when combined with the cell phone frame. This study tested 11 different within-household selection methods with approximately 11,000 landline respondents. A parallel cell phone sample was also collected with 1,000 respondents, and the frames were combined for analysis. The selection methods tested included one probability-based method, four quasi-probability methods and six nonprobability methods. The methods were evaluated on four criteria: response rates, accuracy, demographic representation and substantive results. The demographic representativeness of each method was examined for the landline frame only and for the dual (landline and cell phone) frame combination. The probability method had the lowest response rate, while the nonprobability at-home methods had the highest. Accuracy rates were lowest for the quasi-probability birthday methods. There were few demographic differences between selection methods, and no substantive differences, when combined with the cell phone sample.

Comparing Response Rates, Costs, and Tobacco-Related Outcomes Across Phone, Mail, and Online Surveys

Tobacco control evaluation relies on surveillance documenting attitudes and behaviors. Practitioners and evaluators seek the most efficient, high-quality surveillance methodology. This paper explores the feasibility of mail and online survey data collection protocols using address-based sampling (ABS) to complement landline and cell phone surveys as part of a comprehensive tobacco control program evaluation. We used a comparative study of response rates, costs, and key outcomes across phone, mail, and online survey protocols. In 2015, we supplemented the phone-administered NY Adult Tobacco Survey with an ABS for paper and online data collection. For each survey protocol, we calculated response rates; compared unweighted demographic characteristics; and compared weighted outcome data for smoking prevalence, quit attempts, and tobacco control policy support. We assessed relative cost-per-complete per protocol. Response rates were highest for paper surveys (38.9%), followed by online (28.6%), landline (22.2%), and cell phone (14.7%) surveys. Respondent demographics differed across protocols; landline, mail, and online respondents were more likely than cell phone respondents to be older, female, white, and higher educated. Smoking prevalence varied by protocol, but quit attempts and tobacco control policy support were similar across protocols. Cost-per-complete estimates were lowest for paper surveys. Programs rely on efficient and representative methodologies, and paper and online surveys with ABS show promise for supplementing phone surveillance to improve response rates and lower costs per completed survey.

Trends in influenza vaccine coverage in the Portuguese population: Are there contributing factors?

Introduction In Portugal as in most European countries, annual influenza vaccination is recommended for certain groups at-risk of post-infection complication, namely the elderly. The annual monitoring of the influenza vaccine (IV) coverage allows understanding the success of the vaccination program on a given season. On the other hand, evaluating IV coverage over a long period of time permits understanding factors that contribute to the trend and evolution of the vaccine coverage in specific groups of the population. In public health perspective, and considering that IV coverage is below the desirable target in all groups for which is recommended, it is important to understand what factors contribute to the IV coverage. This study aims to analyse trends in influenza vaccine coverage in the Portuguese population, overall and in specific age groups, and identify factors that contribute to the IV coverage evolution. Methods We used data from a population-based survey conducted annually to estimate IV coverage (ECOS panel) from 1998 to 2015. ECOS is composed by a sample of approximately 1000 households stratified by region (homogeneous allocation) selected from a dual sample frame - random digit dialing mobile and landline phones (ECOS sample). The relevant information is collected by Computer Assisted Telephone interview (CATI) using with the same questionnaire every year and one respondent by household (proxy for the rest of the household members). IV coverage was estimated taking in consideration the design effect. Meta-regression was used to test a linear trend in IV coverage. Models were fitted with the logit of the IV as dependent variable, weighting each survey estimate by the inverse of variance in the logit scale and adjusted for influenza related events [SARS, A(H5N1) and A(H1N1)2009 pandemic]. For the 65 and plus age group, the introduction of free vaccination (in the 2012/13 season) was also modelled. These events where tested given their direct effect on IV recommendations. Results Overall IV coverage estimates varied between 14.2% (95% CI: 11.6; 16.8) in the 1998/99 season and 19.5% (95% CI: 17.6% a 21.6%) in the 2009/10 season. Meta-regression results indicate a non-statistical significant increasing trend of IV coverage along the 18 years in analyse (OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 0.99–1.02). All influenza related events, had an increasing effect on increasing the IV coverage [SARS 2003–2004 - OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.48; A(H1N5) 2005–2006 - OR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.51 and A(H1pdm09) 2009–2010 - OR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.50]. Age stratified analysis revealed a decreasing IV coverage trend in children with less than 14 years (OR = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.89 to 0.99), an increasing trend in the elderly population (OR = 1.05; 95% CI= 1.02 to 1.09) and no trend in the remain age groups (15–44 years: OR = 0.99; 95% CI: 0.97 to 1.02 and 45-64 years: OR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.9 to 1.02). None of the influenza related events influenced IV coverage in children. Equivalent results were observed in the elderly, where none of the tested influenza related events or the introduction of free vaccines in this age group revealed an impact on IV coverage. Conclusion Overall results indicate that periods with threats of circulating virus with severe consequences for health have an impact on IV coverages, towards increasing the vaccine coverage. This result may be related to a higher awareness of health risks during such periods and the adoption of influenza vaccine uptake. However, after age stratification, all these events and including the free vaccine for elderly had no impact on respective IV coverages. Further analysis should be performed in order to identify factors that are influencing the trend in the age stratified IV coverage.

Assessing the effects of a mixed-mode design in a longitudinal household travel survey

The German Mobility Panel (MOP) is a national household travel survey, which has been collecting data on travel behavior in Germany since 1994. One of the MOP’s central assets is its ability to provide time-series data on travel behavior. Thus, the comparability of survey results from different years is a major objective of the survey method used. Declining survey participation rates in the last decade in various socio-demographic groups resulted in the implementation of a mixed-mode design for the MOP in 2013, both for the sampling stage (landline and mobile phone recruitment) and the data collection stage (paper and web). In this study, we analyze whether the adaptations in the survey mode do indeed improve the results and, if so, why and to what degree. Ideally, the survey mode adaptions have increased the representativeness of the MOP. However, measurement biases due to the mixed-mode design are also conceivable. To decompose survey mode effects, we applied the propensity score weighting method. This method imputes the hypothetical responses participants would have given in different survey modes; disparities between actual responses and hypothetical responses under another mode are then traced back to the mixed-mode design. Our analysis indicates that trip-rate biases on shopping, leisure, and short trips are partly caused by the mixed-mode design; in contrast, quantities of time spent in the transportation system, trips made by car and public transportation, and commuting trips are hardly biased.

Parenting Today: A State-Wide Representative Survey of Contemporary Parenting Experiences

This article describes the study design of Parenting Today in Victoria: a representative survey of contemporary parenting experiences, behaviours, concerns and needs of parents. The aims of the study, sample design, survey content development processes, including pilot survey administration, data collection procedures and demographic characteristics of the sample are described. The survey was administered via computer assisted telephone interviewing using random dialling of landline and mobile phone numbers in 2016 to parents of children aged 0–18 years who were living in Victoria, Australia. The response rate was 57% with 2600 parents surveyed (40% fathers). The sample was broadly representative of the Victorian population on major demographic characteristics when compared to data from the Australian Census of Population and Housing (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). However, adjustments were made for over representation of younger parents (16–34 years), more highly educated parents and for those living outside major cities. This survey provides rigorously collected, accurate and up-to-date information about the experiences, preferences and concerns of a large and representative sample of parents. Findings will provide vital new insights to inform policy decision making, service planning and future research aimed at understanding parents’ attitudes and behaviours, and the psychology behind their help-seeking.

The Telephone and Its Uses in 1980s U.S. Activism

Claims that today’s digital technologies are unprecedented in their effect on society are founded on a weak understanding of the roles played by pre-digital technologies. Although the landline phone was the most ubiquitous American technology of the twentieth century, and an important influence on social and political life, it has received little attention in most fields of scholarship. But widespread use of the landline telephone is key to explaining how activists in the U.S. Central America movement of the 1980s sustained their commitment and sense of community. Telephony’s emotional and sensory qualities, underpinned by the powers of the human voice, were significant factors in the Central America movement’s longevity and potency. Communications technology had a profound influence on the character and results of protest movements well before the digital age.

Health Behaviors and Chronic Conditions of Movers: Out-of-state Interviews Among Cell Phone Respondents, BRFSS 2014

Since 2011, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) has been conducting telephone surveys using landline and cell phones from all U.S. states. Due to the portability of cell phones, residents in one state can retain cell phone numbers with area codes from other states. Protocol dictates that BRFSS must interview such out-of-state respondents to complete the core BRFSS interview and collected data must then be transferred to the state of current residence. We used cell phone data from 2014 BRFSS to compare the demographic factors, health care access, health behaviors, history of chronic disease, and chronic conditions among out-of-state interview (movers) with those respondents whose cell phone numbers matched their current state of residence (did not move). The estimated weighted population percentage of movers was 10% nationwide and ranged from 1.5% in Hawaii to 21.0% in Nevada (median: 5.8%). Compared with respondents who did not move, movers were significantly more likely to be younger, white non-Hispanic, college graduate, never married, and more likely to have health care coverage. After adjusting for demographics, movers were 16% less likely to report no leisure time physical activity, 17% less likely to smoke, 7% less likely to be overweight or obese, 33% less likely to report diabetes, and 12% less likely to report having arthritis than respondents who did not move. Persons who might be left out of cell phone samples due to moving in or out of state may therefore represent a potential for bias in estimation of health behaviors and chronic conditions where transfer of data across state lines is not possible.

‘M-TRACK’ (mobile phone reminders and electronic tracking tool) cuts the risk of pre-treatment loss to follow-up by 80% among people living with HIV under programme settings: a mixed-methods study from Gujarat, India

ABSTRACTBackground: In 2016, the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) in Gujarat, India implemented an innovative intervention called ‘M-TRACK’ (mobile phone reminders once every week for four weeks after diagnosis and electronic patient tracking tool) to reduce pre-treatment loss to follow-up (LFU) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Vadodara district while other districts received standard of care.Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of M-TRACK in reducing pre-treatment LFU (proportion of diagnosed PLHIV not registering for HIV care by four weeks after diagnosis) and to explore the implementation enablers and challenges from health care providers’ and PLHIV perspective.Methods: An explanatory mixed-methods study design was used wherein the quantitative phase (cohort study with two groups: Vadodara district exposed to M-TRACK and Rajkot district as unexposed) was followed by a qualitative phase (descriptive study involving group interview with 16 health care providers, personal interviews with two programme managers and telephonic interviews with 16 PLHIV). Data were collected during October 2016 to February 2017.Results: During the pre-M-TRACK period (July–September 2016), the LFU proportion was similar [13% (25/191) in Vadodara; 15% (21/141) in Rajkot (p = 0.8)]. During the M-TRACK period (October–December 2016), LFU decreased to 4% (9/209) in Vadodara (exposed), whereas it remained similar at 16% (18/113) in Rajkot (unexposed) district (p = 0.02). PLHIV exposed to M-TRACK had an 80% lower risk of LFU (aRR 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1–0.5) compared with standard care, after adjusting for socio-demographics, time and clustering at district level. During interviews, M-TRACK was welcomed by both PLHIV and the counsellors. The latter felt it saved time by obviating the need for home visits and helped in documentation. Inconvenience of using landline phone available at the health facility, lack of budgets for reimbursement of mobile call expenses and internet connectivity problems were the key implementation challenges.Conclusion: M-TRACK was highly effective in reducing the gap between diagnosis and treatment. It may be considered for scale-up after addressing the challenges noted.

Protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial on information technology-enabled nutrition intervention among urban adults in Chandigarh (India): SMART eating trial

ABSTRACTNutrition is an important determinant of health. At present, nutrition programs in India mainly emphasize improving maternal and child nutrition. Adult nutrition has not received due attention, though diseases like hypertension and diabetes are largely preventable through changes in dietary and physical activity behaviour. Little is known about the best approaches to improve dietary behaviours, especially the role of modern information technology (IT) in health education. We describe the protocol of the SMART Eating (Small, Measurable and Achievable dietary changes by Reducing fat, sugar and salt consumption and Trying different fruits and vegetables) health promotion intervention. A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial will evaluate the effect of an IT-enabled intervention on nutrition behaviour among urban adults of Chandigarh, India. Formative research using a qualitative exploratory approach was undertaken to inform the intervention. The IT-enabled intervention programme includes website development, Short Message Service (SMS), e-mail reminders and interactive help by mobile and landline phones. The IT-enabled intervention will be compared to the traditional nutrition education program of distributing pamphlets in the control group. The primary outcome will be the percentage of study participants meeting the dietary intake guidelines of the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India and the change in intake of fat, sugar, salt, fruit and vegetables after the intervention. The difference in differences method will be used to determine the net change in dietary intakes resulting from the interventions. Measurements will be made at baseline and at 6 months post-intervention, using a food frequency questionnaire. The formative research led to the development of a comprehensive intervention, focusing on five dietary components and using multi-channel communication approach including the use of IT to target urban North Indians from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. The Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial design is suitable for evaluating the effectiveness of this IT-enabled intervention for dietary behaviour change.

Mixed mode survey design and panel repetition – findings from the German Mobility Panel

Abstract The German Mobility Panel is a multi-day and multi-period panel survey, which has been collecting data on travel behavior in Germany since 1994. Declining survey participation rates in the last decade in various socio-demographic groups resulted in the implementation of a mixed-mode design for the German Mobility Panel, both in the sampling stage (landline and mobile phone recruitment) and in the data collection stage (paper and web). This study deals with two questions: does the new mixed-mode design affect a person’s willingness to continue participating in the consecutive survey waves? Is there a causal relation between data quality and completeness of survey repeaters and survey mode in the data collection stage? Our results show that survey mode and drop out propensity are not linked but web participants are more likely to switch their survey mode in the consecutive year. Overall, our study makes a case of how adaptations to the survey modes in a longitudinal panel survey on travel behavior affect the survey outcomes.

Social and Pop-media as Reflection of Self

The essay provides an introspection into the relationship between our identities and technology. It aims to show how our identities are affected by new modes of operation that were less accessible before the emergence of social networks. Through an observation of popular media (i.e. TV shows) and social media, it reveals how the self is convoluted, resulting into a variety of performed identities. It explores how through social media, individuals are able to create perceived identities, which are to various degrees lived or completely fabricated. The essay uses iZombie and Orphan Black as case studies to showcase how life and the media are intertwined, resulting in the latter holding a mirror to the former. With a distinction between the online and offline personality, it presents the augmentation of identity with the aid of new interfaces, online intermediaries that add to the interpersonal contact; from the initial landline phone to more current modes of communication (Facebook, Tinder…) the essay points out how levels of anonymity aid the emergence of new identities. It provides a mirror of contemporary life and the ways the augmented self-influences the ways we understand and view our identities. Keywords: context collapse, identity, performing the self, social media, TV shows

Temporal Statistical Analysis of Degree Distributions in an Undirected Landline Phone Call Network Graph Series

This article aims to provide new results about the intraday degree sequence distribution considering phone call network graph evolution in time. More specifically, it tackles the following problem. Given a large amount of landline phone call data records, what is the best way to summarize the distinct number of calling partners per client per day? In order to answer this question, a series of undirected phone call network graphs is constructed based on data from a local telecommunication source in Albania. All network graphs of the series are simplified. Further, a longitudinal temporal study is made on this network graphs series related to the degree distributions. Power law and log-normal distribution fittings on the degree sequence are compared on each of the network graphs of the series. The maximum likelihood method is used to estimate the parameters of the distributions, and a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test associated with a p-value is used to define the plausible models. A direct distribution comparison is made through a Vuong test in the case that both distributions are plausible. Another goal was to describe the parameters’ distributions’ shape. A Shapiro-Wilk test is used to test the normality of the data, and measures of shape are used to define the distributions’ shape. Study findings suggested that log-normal distribution models better the intraday degree sequence data of the network graphs. It is not possible to say that the distributions of log-normal parameters are normal.

Feasibility of a low-cost hearing screening in rural Indiana

BackgroundHearing loss remains a neglected public health issue in the rural and agricultural communities in the United States and therefore, promotion of a low-cost hearing screening may be important for these underserved populations. The major objectives of our study were to assess feasibility of a low-cost telephone-administered hearing test in rural Indiana and to identify the challenges, barriers and viable implementation strategies associated with this test. Also, we evaluated whether a focus group session could change the hearing health attitude of rural residents.MethodsWe recruited 126 adults from six rural Indiana counties who participated in study activities in the following order: 1) a pre-focus group demographic, knowledge and attitude survey, 2) a focus group for discussing the feasibility of a telephone-administered hearing screening, 3) a post focus group attitude survey and 4) hearing was screened using an audiometer and self-assessment scale. These activities generated both qualitative and quantitative data, which were subsequently analyzed.ResultsHearing impairment was perceived as an important public health issue. Many participants expressed interests to try the low-cost National Hearing Test (NHT). However, participants recommended NHT to be facilitated by community organizations to provide access to landline phones. The focus group turned out to be an excellent awareness building activity producing significant improvement in hearing health attitudes. Comparison of self and audiometric evaluations indicated underestimation of hearing handicap in our rural study population.ConclusionsThe study results underscore the urgent need for an effective strategy to promote low-cost hearing screening in rural US communities.

The Effect of Phone Counseling for Mothers of Premature Infants Discharged from the Hospital on Infants’ Readmission

Background Despite the progress made in the care transition program from the hospital to home with an emphasis on telephone counseling, an effective and safe care transition process has not been provided to patients and their families.The aim of this study was to investigate The Effect of Phone Counseling for Mothers of Premature Infants Discharged from the Hospital on Infants’ Readmission. Materials and Methods In this quasi experimental study, 100 mothers of premature infants were selected using convenient sampling and randomly assigned to two intervention and control groups. A demographic data questionnaire and the check list of the causes and readmission rate of premature infants were used for data collection. In the intervention group, after the discharge of premature infants, three phone calls in a week in the first four weeks, and two phone calls a week in weeks five to six were made via the landline and mobile phone for providing necessary education to mothers regarding the provision of care to infants. The communication time varied between 10 and 15 minutes in each phone call. Lastly, the rate of hospital readmission of the infants 4 weeks, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after the intervention were assessed by phone. Telephone communication to the mothers in the control group was performed for raising their awareness of the causes and rate of hospital readmission in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Results: Each group (case and control groups) was consisted of 50 Mothers of Premature Infants and no statistically significant difference was reported between the two groups in terms of the mean age mothers, infant age, and birth weight when discharging from the hospital and hospitalization time. The rate of hospital readmission in the intervention group 4 weeks (P=0.004), six weeks (P=0.005) and 12 weeks (P=0.006) after the intervention was significantly lower than the control group. Conclusion Telephone consultations are an affordable way for engaging and supporting the mothers of premature infants. More study is warranted to determine if these results can be applied to multiple sites and in more diverse populations, as well as if this intervention can reduce infants’ Readmission.

Maintaining Connections

Abstract The concepts of user and non-user are frequently deployed within media and communications literature. What do these terms mean if examined regarding age and ageing? In this article we explore and trouble these notions through an analysis of twenty-two conversations with a group of octogenarians and nonagenarians living in a retirement home. Their descriptions of their changing uses of media througout lifetime, and their encounters with mobile phones, computers, newspapers, television, radio and landline phones, are presented as a set of ‘techno-biographies’ that challenge binary divisions of use and non-use, linear notions of media adoption, and add texture to the idea of ‘the fourth age’ as a time of life bereft of decisional power. Speaking with octogenarians and nonagenarians provides insights into media desires, needs and uses, and opens up ‘non-use’ as a complex, variegated activity, rather than a state of complete inaction or disinterest.

ADAPTATION OF THE AAPOR FINAL CODE SYSTEM FOR CATI TECHNIQUE IN RUSSIA

The paper describes the basic problems regarding the adaptation of the final code system of the American Association of Public Opinion Research used in telephone-based surveys for the Russian environment as well as ways to solve these problems. The basic challenges researchers generally face are coding of implicit and explicit refusals, instable telephone companies’ signal, and interaction of different voice communication channels and software. The solution of these problems depends on the values of the final codes needed to calculate coefficient of performance. The authors propose recommendations helping to organize, conduct and combine the current and the scheduled telephone-based surveys via both mobile and landline phones; possible experimental plans are also described in the paper.

The impact of the mode of survey administration on estimates of daily smoking for mobile phone only users

BackgroundOver the past decade, there have been substantial changes in landline and mobile phone ownership, with a substantial increase in the proportion of mobile-only households. Estimates of daily smoking rates for the mobile phone only (MPO) population have been found to be substantially higher than the rest of the population and telephone surveys that use a dual sampling frame (landline and mobile phones) are now considered best practice. Smoking is seen as an undesirable behaviour; measuring such behaviours using an interviewer may lead to lower estimates when using telephone based surveys compared to self-administered approaches. This study aims to assess whether higher daily smoking estimates observed for the mobile phone only population can be explained by administrative features of surveys, after accounting for differences in the phone ownership population groups.MethodsData on New South Wales (NSW) residents aged 18 years or older from the NSW Population Health Survey (PHS), a telephone survey, and the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS), a self-administered survey, were combined, with weights adjusted to match the 2013 population. Design-adjusted prevalence estimates and odds ratios were calculated using survey analysis procedures available in SAS 9.4.ResultsBoth the PHS and NDSHS gave the same estimates for daily smoking (12%) and similar estimates for MPO users (20% and 18% respectively). Pooled data showed that daily smoking was 19% for MPO users, compared to 10% for dual phone owners, and 12% for landline phone only users. Prevalence estimates for MPO users across both surveys were consistently higher than other phone ownership groups. Differences in estimates for the MPO population compared to other phone ownership groups persisted even after adjustment for the mode of collection and demographic factors.ConclusionsDaily smoking rates were consistently higher for the mobile phone only population and this was not driven by the mode of survey collection. This supports the assertion that the use of a dual sampling frame addresses coverage issues that would otherwise be present in telephone surveys that only made use of a landline sampling frame.