Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Apr 15, 2022
Open Peer Review Period: Apr 15, 2022 - Apr 29, 2022
Date Accepted: Dec 27, 2022
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Effect of data collection method on mobile phone survey participation in Bangladesh and Tanzania: Secondary analyses of a randomized cross-over trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Mobile phone surveys provide a novel opportunity to collect population-based estimates on public health risk factors; however, non-response and low participation challenge the goal of collecting unbiased survey estimates.
Objective:
This study compares the performance of computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) and interactive voice response (IVR) survey modalities for non-communicable disease risk factors in Bangladesh and Tanzania.
Methods:
Study participants were identified using random digit dialing and mobile phone numbers randomly allocated to either a CATI or IVR survey. The analysis examines survey completion, contact, response, refusal, and cooperation rates of those who received the CATI and IVR surveys. Statistical differences in survey outcomes between modes were assessed using multi-level multivariable logistic regression models to adjust confounding covariates. These analyses were adjusted for clustering effects by mobile network provider.
Results:
CATI surveys contacted 7,044 and 4,399 numbers in Bangladesh and Tanzania respectively, and IVR surveys contacted 60,863 and 51,685 numbers respectively, between June-August 2017. Response rates for CATI were 5.4% (Bangladesh) and 8.6% (Tanzania), whereas for IVR these were 0.8% (Bangladesh) and 1.1% (Tanzania). In both countries, IVR respondents were younger, predominantly male, and had higher schooling. In Bangladesh, those receiving IVR were less likely to complete it than CATI (odds ratio (OR) 0.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25, 0.43). Females who received IVR surveys were less likely to complete them compared to males (OR 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.96).
Conclusions:
The finding that IVR surveys generated lower survey completion, response, and cooperation rates than CATI surveys in both Bangladesh and Tanzania suggests that in certain settings, a selective approach may be needed in designing and deploying mobile phone surveys to increase population representativeness. Meanwhile, CATI surveys may offer a promising approach for surveying potentially under-represented groups like females, rural residents, and participants with lower levels of schooling in some countries.
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