Usefulness of telephone risk factor surveys in the New Mexico border region

Background: We sought to assess prevalence of behavioral risk factors and evaluate the usefulness of survey data gathered by telephone in the New Mexico border region. Methods: This study compared behavioral risk factor data gathered from two probability sample surveys administered in 1998–1999, one...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of preventive medicine 2002-07, Vol.23 (1), p.22-27
Main Authors: Escobedo, Luis G, Landen, Michael G, Axtell, Catherine D, Kaigh, William D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Data Collection
demography
Educational Status
Ethnic Groups
Female
Health Behavior
Health Surveys
Humans
insurance
Male
methods
Middle Aged
New Mexico
primary prevention
Risk Factors
social class
Telephone
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Summary:Background: We sought to assess prevalence of behavioral risk factors and evaluate the usefulness of survey data gathered by telephone in the New Mexico border region. Methods: This study compared behavioral risk factor data gathered from two probability sample surveys administered in 1998–1999, one by means of a telephone interview and the second face to face. Prevalence estimates for medical care access, injury, and chronic disease risk factors were compared by survey mode, overall, and stratified by income level. Results: Risk factor prevalence estimates based on telephone interviews resemble estimates obtained from face-to-face interviews. Although risk factor prevalence estimated from face-to-face interviews were in general slightly greater than those from telephone interviews, none of these differences reached statistical significance. When data for each respective survey were examined by income level, prevalence estimates for comparable income groups in both surveys were in general agreement and estimates within survey increased with declining income. Conclusion: In the New Mexico border region, telephone survey data appear to be reasonably valid and offer opportunities for population-based health research.
ISSN:0749-3797
1873-2607
DOI:10.1016/S0749-3797(02)00445-2