Random Digit Dial Methodology Research Articles

Estimation of bed net coverage indicators in Tanzania using mobile phone surveys: a comparison of sampling approaches

Threats to maintaining high population access with effective bed nets persist due to errors in quantification, bed net wear and tear, and inefficiencies in distribution activities. Monitoring bed net coverage is therefore critical, but usually occurs every 2-3years through expensive, large-scale household surveys. Mobile phone-based survey methodologies are emerging as an alternative to household surveys and can provide rapid estimates of coverage, however, little research on varied sampling approaches has been conducted in sub-Saharan Africa. A nationally and regionally representative cross-sectional mobile phone survey was conducted in early 2021 in Tanzania with focus on bed net ownership and access. Half the target sample was contacted through a random digit dial methodology (n = 3500) and the remaining half was reached through a voluntary opt-in respondent pool (n = 3500). Both sampling approaches used an interactive voice response survey. Standard RBM-MERG bed net indicators and AAPOR call metrics were calculated. In addition, the results of the two sampling approaches were compared. Population access (i.e., the percent of the population that could sleep under a bed net, assuming one bed net per two people) varied from a regionally adjusted low of 48.1% (Katavi) to a high of 65.5% (Dodoma). The adjusted percent of households that had a least one bed net ranged from 54.8% (Pemba) to 75.5% (Dodoma); the adjusted percent of households with at least one bed net per 2 de facto household population ranged from 35.9% (Manyara) to 55.7% (Dodoma). The estimates produced by both sampling approaches were generally similar, differing by only a few percentage points. An analysis of differences between estimates generated from the two sampling approaches showed minimal bias when considering variation across the indicator for households with at least one bed net per two de facto household population. The results generated by this survey show that overall bed net access in the country appears to be lower than target thresholds. The results suggest that bed net distribution is needed in large sections of the country to ensure that coverage levels remain high enough to sustain protection against malaria for the population.

Using Social Networks to Supplement RDD Telephone Surveys to Oversample Hard-to-Reach Populations: A New RDD+RDS Approach

Random digit dialing (RDD) telephone sampling, although experiencing declining response rates, remains one of the most accurate and cost-effective data collection methods for generating national population-based estimates. Such methods, however, are inefficient when sampling hard-to-reach populations because the costs of recruiting sufficient sample sizes to produce reliable estimates tend to be cost prohibitive. The authors implemented a novel respondent-driven sampling (RDS) approach to oversample cigarette smokers and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The new methodology selects RDS referrals or seeds from a probability-based RDD sampling frame and treats the social networks as clusters in the weighting and analysis, thus eliminating the intricate assumptions of RDS. The authors refer to this approach as RDD+RDS. In 2016 and 2017, a telephone survey was conducted on tobacco-related topics with a national sample of 4,208 U.S. adults, as well as 756 referral-based respondents. The RDD+RDS estimates were comparable with stand-alone RDD estimates, suggesting that the addition of RDS responses from social networks improved the precision of the estimates without introducing significant bias. The authors also conducted an experiment to determine whether the number of recruits would vary on the basis of how the RDS recruitment question specified the recruitment population (closeness of relationship, time since last contact, and LGBT vs. tobacco user), and significant differences were found in the number of referrals provided on the basis of question wording. The RDD+RDS sampling approach, as an adaptation of standard RDD methodology, is a practical tool for survey methodologists that provides an efficient strategy for oversampling rare or elusive populations.

Predictors of Psychotherapy Use among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Depressive Symptoms

ABSTARCTObjectives: The present study investigates the applicability of the behavioral model of health service use (Andersen, 1995) to the predicting of psychotherapy use among older adults.Methods: Sample was obtained, using a random-digit dialing methodology, from the older Jewish population in Israel. The final sample consisted of 509 respondents with an average age of 74.08 (SD = 5.89). The telephone interviews were conducted in the first week of August 2011, by experienced interviewers, in Hebrew or Russian, using a structured questionnaire.Results: After adjusting for age, gender, education, marital status, religiosity, health status, and economic status in the first step, binary logistic regression revealed that higher depressive symptoms, positive attitudes toward psychological treatment, primary physician referral, and accessibility of psychological services were all related to higher odds ratios for seeking psychological treatment.Conclusions: The present study integrated previously identified precursors of mental health service use into one model predicting psychotherapy use among community-dwelling older adults. The model suggests that the point of entry to psychotherapy is not limited to one source and that individuals’ need, their attitudes, accessibility of services, and their primary physicians’ referral are all useful facilitators of psychotherapy use.

Seasonal influenza vaccination uptake in Quebec, Canada, 2 years after the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic

A decrease in seasonal influenza vaccine uptake was observed after the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic in 2009. The goal of our study was to assess seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in 2011-2012, 2 years after the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic mass immunization campaign and to identify the main reasons for having or not having received the vaccine. A telephone survey using random-digit dialing methodology was conducted. Case-weights were assigned to adjust for disproportionate sampling and for nonresponse bias. Descriptive statistics were generated for all variables. Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake was 57% among adults aged ≥60 years, 35% among adults with chronic medical conditions, and 44% among health care workers. The main reasons given for having been vaccinated were to be protected from influenza and a high perceived susceptibility to influenza, whereas low perceived susceptibility to influenza and low perceived severity of influenza were the main reasons for not having been vaccinated. An increase in seasonal influenza vaccine uptake was observed 2 years after the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. However, vaccine coverage is still below the target level of 80%. More efforts are needed to develop effective strategies to increase seasonal influenza vaccine uptake.

Victimization, psychological distress, and help-seeking: Disentangling the relationship for Latina victims.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the role of help-seeking on the victimization-psychological distress link. Specifically, we aim to determine whether help-seeking is associated with various forms of psychological distress among victims of interpersonal violence. METHOD: This study used data from the Sexual Assault Among Latinas (SALAS) Study, which surveyed 2,000 Latino women using random digit dial methodology, and queried participants about lifetime victimization, help-seeking behaviors associated with victimization, and psychological distress. Using linear regression with a subsample of the women who experienced victimization in adulthood (N = 242), we evaluated the association of victimization, cultural variables, formal help-seeking, and informal help-seeking on psychological distress. Subsequently, we also evaluated the relationship of each specific form of help-seeking on current psychological distress. RESULTS: Results suggest that formal help-seeking but not informal help-seeking was associated with lower psychological distress among Latino women. Specifically, formal help-seeking was associated with decreased levels of current depression, anger, dissociation, and anxiety. When looking at specific forms of formal help-seeking, reporting to police was the main form of help-seeking associated with decreased levels of current psychological distress. Interaction effects also showed the victimization--anger relationship was stronger for those with higher Latino orientation that were neither of Mexican nor Cuban descent. CONCLUSION: The results support the importance of promoting formal help-seeking behaviors, particularly police reporting, as a way of decreasing the negative psychological impact of victimization. Among Latinas, cultural factors and ethnicity need to be taken into consideration to better understand help-seeking behaviors and emotional functioning.

The National Elder Mistreatment Study: Race and Ethnicity Findings

The prevalence of elder mistreatment with respect to race and ethnicity was examined in an unweighted sample of 5,777 participants (5,776 participants in weighted sample). Random Digit Dialing methodology was used to select a representative sample of community-dwelling older adults, and the survey was available in English and Spanish. Mistreatment types included emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Race- and ethnicity-based differences were largely absent, and the only observed increase was for physical mistreatment among non-White older adults; however, this association was not sustained in multivariate analyses controlling for income, health status, and social support. Findings are in contrast to prior reports of increased risk of mistreatment in minority populations and point to correlated and modifiable factors of social support and poor health as targets for preventive intervention.

The Cultural Influences on Help‐seeking Among a National Sample of Victimized Latino Women

The current study examined the influence of legal status and cultural variables (i.e., acculturation, gender role ideology and religious coping) on the formal and informal help-seeking efforts of Latino women who experienced interpersonal victimization. The sample was drawn from the Sexual Assault Among Latinas (SALAS) Study that surveyed 2,000 self-identified adult Latino women. The random digit dial methodology employed in high-density Latino neighborhoods resulted in a cooperation rate of 53.7%. Women who experienced lifetime victimization (n = 714) reported help-seeking efforts in response to their most distressful victimization event that occurred in the US. Approximately one-third of the women reported formal help-seeking and about 70% of women reported informal help-seeking. Help-seeking responses were generally not predicted by the cultural factors measured, with some exceptions. Anglo orientation and negative religious coping increased the likelihood of formal help-seeking. Positive religious coping, masculine gender role and Anglo acculturation increased the likelihood of specific forms of informal help-seeking. Latino orientation decreased the likelihood of talking to a sibling. Overall, these findings reinforce the importance of bilingual culturally competent services as cultural factors shape the ways in which women respond to victimization either formally or within their social networks.

Interpersonal victimization patterns and psychopathology among Latino women: Results from the SALAS study.

Research on the victimization of Latino women and the subsequent psychological impact has been limited by focusing on individual forms of victimization, primarily partner violence or sexual assault. Another deficiency includes mainly using convenience and/or geographically restricted samples, which impacts the generalizability of the results. To overcome these research limitations, the Sexual Assault Among Latinas (SALAS) study aimed to evaluate the broader scope of victimization among Latino women. The study surveyed a national sample of 2,000 Latino women using random digit dial methodology. Women were asked about various forms of victimization in childhood and adulthood including physical assaults, sexual assaults, stalking, threats, and witnessed violence, as well as psychological symptomatology including depression, anxiety, anger, and dissociation. This analysis found that victimized women were more likely to experience some form of polyvictimization and/or revictimization throughout their lives, with only 36% of victimized women experiencing one form of victimization in childhood or adulthood alone. Furthermore, multiple victimization experiences significantly increased the proportion of women who experienced psychological distress symptoms in the clinical range. For almost all evaluated symptoms, the multiple forms of victimization or varying victimization patterns significantly predicted clinical levels of psychological distress over any specific form or single incident of victimization. The results suggest that victimized Latino women experience multiple forms of victimization and that the evaluation of a broader spectrum of victimization better accounts for pathological symptomatology. Clinical implications for Latino women and future research directions are discussed.

Recruiting Probability Samples for a Multi-Mode Research Panel with Internet and Mail Components

Survey response rates have been declining over the past several decades, particularly for random-digit-dialing (RDD) telephone surveys (see de Leeuw and de Heer 2002; Steeh 1981). This trend af- fects research panels such as the Gallup Panel, which uses RDD methodology to recruit its members. If significant improvements in pan- el recruitment response rates are to be achieved, new approaches must be considered. This paper presents the findings of a mail and telephone mode experiment conducted by the Gallup Panel to analyze the individ- ual and combined effects of incentives, advance letters, and follow-up telephone calls on the panel recruitment response rate. Study results in- dicate that the mail recruitment approach nets a higher panel response rate, and that the cost-effectiveness of the mail recruitment approach is significantly greater than the telephone recruitment approach. Study re- sults also suggest that the advance letter, incentive, and telephone follow-up conditions all have independent, positive influences on the response rate; and that the groups that receive an advance letter, that receive incentives, and that receive a follow-up telephone call have higher panel recruitment response rates than the control group.

Topology of the Landline Telephone Sampling Frame

Based on a series of studies conducted by the authors during the past two years, it has been reported that the landline telephone sampling frame may no longer hold some of the properties based on which list-assisted Random Digit Dial (RDD) sampling methodology was developed. Among other fundamental changes, the digital transition of the telephone network infrastructure has undermined the relevance of the 100-series telephone number banks for construction of RDD sampling frames. Today, local telephone exchanges are not servo-mechanical in nature anymore and hence such banks no longer serve as physical building blocks for telephone number assignments. Consequently, telephone companies are now less systematic in their assignment of numbers to new customers, Tucker and Lepkowski (2008). With departure from the above AT&T-dominated structure and emergence of various innovations in the telecommunication industry, the landline telephone sampling frame has become subject to unfolding new realities. On the one hand, the residential density of the 100-series telephone banks has been changing, which is a manifestation of a series of interrelated factors. On the other hand, with the growing number of alternative providers of voice services there are emerging issues that have confounded the operational definitions that the RDD methodology has relied upon for frame construction and identification of residential landlines.

Acculturation and Orofacial Pain Among Hispanic Adults

This study examined the associations between acculturation and orofacial pain and healthcare among Hispanic adults. Understanding the effects of acculturation on Hispanic oral health may improve understanding of oral health disparities in the United States. Data were collected from 911 Hispanic adults reporting tooth pain and painful oral sores who were part of a larger study of South Florida residents conducted using random-digit dialing methodology. The survey was conducted in Spanish or English by bilingual interviewers per the choice of each respondent. Greater use of the Spanish language was associated with disparities in healthcare visits for orofacial pain, not having a usual dentist, having greater pain, increased difficulty eating and sleeping, and more depression. Respondents' and their parents' nativity (families that had been in the United States longer) and those identifying more closely to Hispanic culture were also predictive of several of the outcomes. Gender, financial status, and age, independent of acculturation, were also associated with orofacial pain, accessing health care, and pain-related loss of functioning among Hispanics. The data support the hypothesis that Hispanics with less acculturation are less able to access needed oral health care. This study highlights the need for outreach programs targeting recent Hispanic immigrants focusing on oral health care. This study found that lower levels of acculturation, particularly less frequent use of English, were associated with greater oral pain and depression for Hispanics adults. This emphasizes the need to provide Hispanic patients with information in Spanish and the importance of having bilingual materials and staff in dental clinics.

Risk and Protective Factors for Psychopathology Among Older versus Younger Adults After the 2004 Florida Hurricanes

Previous research demonstrates increased resiliency to psychopathology after disasters among older adults. However, little is known about differences in age-based risk and protective factors for postdisaster mental illness. The authors used random-digit dialing methodology to survey 1,130 older adults (60+ years) and 413 younger adults residing in Florida counties directly affected by the 2004 hurricanes. Assessed risk and protective factors included demographics, social support, displacement, incurred dollar losses, perceived positive outcomes, and self-rated health status. Outcome variables included symptom counts of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition-defined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Older adults reported fewer symptoms of PTSD, MDD, and GAD. Explanatory risk variables accounted for large proportions of variance, but differed in meaningful ways across age groups. Although older adults are less symptomatic, their psychologic reactions appear more closely connected to economic consequences of disasters.

Heritage retention and bean intake correlates to dietary fiber intakes in Hispanic mothers— Qué Sabrosa Vida

Objective To determine the correlation between fruit/vegetable and bean stage of change and heritage retention with fiber intake in Hispanic mothers. Design Cross-sectional study design used baseline survey data from the Qué Sabrosa Vida nutrition intervention developed by the University of Texas School of Public Health, Human Nutrition Center (Houston, TX). Participants were recruited and data gathered from telephone surveys using random digit dial methodology ensuring proportional representation of demographic subgroups. Subjects Hispanic mothers (N=293) responded to the baseline survey in El Paso, TX. Analyses Using SPSS version 11.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL), descriptive statistics, χ 2, correlations, and analyses of variance were used to determine the relationship of variables to fiber intake. Potential confounding variables included were grain stage of change, age, education level, and marital status. Results Mean fiber intake for mothers was 21.9 g/day and mean age was 35.8 years. χ 2 of fruit/vegetable stage was P=.784. χ 2 of bean stage, heritage retention score, age, and education to fiber intake were significant, P=.008, P=.004, P=.005, and P=.001, respectively. Bean stage, heritage retention score, age, and education level were significantly correlated. One-way analysis of variance of bean stage, heritage retention score, age, and education level by fiber intake were significant, P=.006, P=.001, P=.004, and P=.002, respectively. Conclusions Older Hispanic mothers in the action/maintenance bean stage with strong heritage retention score had greater fiber intakes than younger mothers in pre-action bean stage with weak heritage retention score. As education level increased fiber intake decreased. Encouragement of bean consumption and heritage retention may increase fiber intake in this Hispanic mother population.

Dietary intake in the lower Mississippi delta region: results from the foods of our delta study

Objective To collect and evaluate food intake data from a culturally diverse population and compare with national survey data. Design The Foods Of Our Delta Study was a baseline, cross-sectional survey that utilized random-digit dialing methodology to identify the sample. Food intake was obtained from a 24-hour dietary recall administered by computer-assisted telephone interview using the multiple-pass method Subjects/setting One thousand seven hundred fifty-one adults and 485 children in the Lower Mississippi Delta (Delta) of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Statistical analyses performed Comparisons of subsets within the Delta were made using weighted t tests. Comparisons of the Delta with the overall US population from the US Department of Agriculture Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals and with the Dietary Reference Intakes were made using independent sample z tests of weighted estimates. Results Energy intake did not differ between the Delta and the US populations. Intakes of protein were lower, fat higher, and certain micronutrients lower in Delta adults than in US adults. Delta adults had a 20% lower intake of fruits and vegetables than the US adults and generally poorer adherence to recommendations of the Food Guide Pyramid. African American Delta adults generally consumed less-optimal diets than white Delta adults. Delta children had diets similar to children of the Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals sample population, but lower intakes were noted for vitamins A, C, riboflavin, and B-6, and for calcium and iron. Applications/conclusions Data such as these will help drive intervention development in this rural region and perhaps set the stage for research in similarly impoverished areas.

Social identity effects in a belief-attitude-intentions hierarchy: Implications for corporate sponsorship

Companies have increasingly turned to sponsorship as a marketing communications vehicle in the hopes that the goodwill that consumers feel toward an event, cause, or sports team will rub off on their brands. The current study tests a beliefs–attitude–intentions hierarchy in the context of the corporate sponsorship of a major university's sports teams. The direct and indirect effects of social identity with the university's teams (i.e., team identification) on intentions to purchase products from a corporate sponsor are also considered. A random-digit dialing methodology was used to collect data from 368 individuals. In general, the results supported the hypotheses. Of special interest was team identification's ability to moderate the effect of attitude on purchase intentions. As predicted, attitude toward purchasing a sponsor's products was more highly related to purchase intentions for low identifiers than for high identifiers. Specifically, among those with an unfavorable attitude, high identifiers had significantly more positive intentions to purchase than did low identifiers. For high identifiers, it appears that team identification acts as a heuristic that favorably predisposes them to want to buy products from a sponsor in spite of their evaluation of that action. Marketing implications are discussed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Appropriateness in acquiring a family caregiver interview from older adults with suspected cognitive impairment

This study attempted to identify the factors associated with the completion of a family caregiver interview among a sample of older adults with suspected cognitive impairment. From a random-digit dial methodology, we identified 3,726 individuals ≥ 70 years of age with a family caregiver living in Arkansas. Of that number, 730 (19.6%) screened positive for suspected cognitive impairment. Of those who screened positive, we collected complete data on 532 (73% completion rate). Of these 532 participants, we gathered complete data on 376 of their family caregivers (71% completion rate).We developed a multivariate logistic regression model that estimated correlates (sociodemographic, accessibility, awareness, and utilization of services, and health status characteristics) of the older adults with suspected cognitive impairment and a family caregiver who completed an interview. Multivariate analysis found that a complete caregiver interview was associated with being male, engaging in more face-to-face contact with family members other than the family caregiver, having more visits to the physician (excluding a psychiatrist) and having more difficulties performing instrumental activities of daily living. This paper discusses the implications of using telephone interviews to collect and evaluate data on the health status and health service needs of older adults with suspected cognitive impairment. Findings suggest the importance of completing a concomitant interview with a family caregiver. Health care policymakers and providers may want to pay particular attention to older adults with fewer family contacts when planning access to care services.

DISTRIBUTION OF READINESS TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR IN A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE

91 Introduction. This paper describes the adaptation of the Transtheoretical Model of behavior change (TTM) to increasing the donation intention rate. A key TTM variable for the design of individual and public health interventions is Stage of Change, which employs past behavior and behavioral intention to characterize an individual's readiness to change. The Stages of Change are Precontemplation (not ready), Contemplation (considering change), Preparation (preparing for change), Action (recently changed) and Maintenance (maintaining change). To be in Action, individuals must document intent and inform family members of that decision. A representative sample is described which provides accurate estimates of the overall stage distribution in the population and comparisons on gender, age, race and educational level. Method. A random-digit dial methodology was employed. Participants were 604 residents of Louisiana age 18 and older who completed a telephone survey assessing awareness and attitudes about organ donation and transplantation. Stage of Change was assessed through a series of questions about wishes to donate organs after death. Those expressing a wish to donate were asked about documentation of that intent and whether they informed family members. Results. The stage distribution was 28% in Precontemplation, 18% in Contemplation, 20% in Preparation and 33% in Action/Maintenance (A/M, combined for further analyses). Educational level affected the stage distribution with the proportion of the sample in Precontemplation decreasing as the education level increased (χ2(6) = 41.3, p<.001). Race was also a significant factor as minority participants (93% Black) were twice as likely to be in Precontemplation while White participants were twice as likely to be in A/M (χ2(3) = 41.5, p<.001). Age and gender did not significantly affect the stage distribution. Discussion. This stage distribution has important implications for intervention design. Existing interventions to increase donation intentions are most appropriate for the Preparation stage, but the majority of the sample not yet in A/M were in the first two stages (70%). This results in mismatches between the readiness of the individual and the intervention. The stability of the distribution across age and gender suggests that interventions appropriately matched to stage can be applied across gender and all age groups. Differences found with respect to educational level and race can serve as a guide to the tailoring of intervention materials.

Dental disease and work loss.

Few studies have analyzed dental diseases in terms of their social impact. This study explored the feasibility of a social outcome measure, work absence. 2600 employed people in the Hartford (CT) area were interviewed by 'phone using Random Digit Dialing methodology. While dental disability did not affect the majority (75%) of those workers interviewed, 25% reported an episode of work loss in the past 12 months related to dental problems and dental treatment visits. Workers lost an average of 1.7 hours. The prevalence and magnitude of work loss were sensitive to several sociodemographic, access, and health-related factors.