Recall errors in a weekly survey of diarrhoea in Guatemala: determining the optimal length of recall

We measured the recall error, optimal recall length and factors associated with diarrhoea in a weekly survey. Data was taken from a year-long randomized controlled trial in which characteristics of diarrhoeal episodes were recorded weekly. We labelled the recall period as days 1–6; day 1 being the d...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection 2010-02, Vol.138 (2), p.264-269
Main Authors: ZAFAR, S. N., LUBY, S. P., MENDOZA, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Bias
Biological and medical sciences
Blood
Child, Preschool
Children
Climate and infection
Demography
Diarrhea
Diarrhea - epidemiology
diarrhoea
Epidemiology
Error rates
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gastrointestional Infection
Guatemala - epidemiology
Health surveys
Households
Humans
Infant
Longitudinal studies
Male
Mental Recall
Microbiology
Morbidity
Mothers
Mothers - education
Mothers - psychology
recall
survey
Surveys and Questionnaires - standards
Variables
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We measured the recall error, optimal recall length and factors associated with diarrhoea in a weekly survey. Data was taken from a year-long randomized controlled trial in which characteristics of diarrhoeal episodes were recorded weekly. We labelled the recall period as days 1–6; day 1 being the day before the visit. Recall error was the percentage difference between the number of episodes reported to begin on a particular day and the mean for days 1 and 2. Generalized estimating equations were used to determine associations. Recall error was 37% on day 3 and 51% on day 5. The error was less in younger children (by 10%), severe episodes (by 29%) and when blood was present in the stool (by 18%). Diarrhoea was underreported when the recall period extended beyond 2 days. Surveys that use longer recall periods risk underestimating diarrhoea incidence and selectively capturing more severe episodes.
ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409
DOI:10.1017/S0950268809990422