BACKGROUND: This study assesses the impact of Telephone Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing (T-ACASI) on the reporting of sensitive (mainly heterosexual) behaviours. METHODS: A randomized experiment was embedded in a telephone survey that drew probability samples of the populations of the USA (N = 1543) and Baltimore city (N = 744). Respondents were randomly assigned to have questions asked either by a T-ACASI computer or by a human telephone interviewer. RESULTS: Compared with interviewer-administered telephone surveys, T-ACASI obtained more frequent reporting of a range of mainly heterosexual behaviours that were presumed to be sensitive, including recency of anal sex [adjusted odds ratio (A-OR) = 2.00, P < 0.001), sex during menstrual period (A-OR = 1.49, P < 0.001), giving oral sex (A-OR = 1.40, P = 0.001) and receiving oral sex (A-OR = 1.36, P = 0.002), and sexual difficulties for the respondent (A-OR = 1.45, P = 0.034) and their main sex partner (A-OR = 1.48, P = 0.0). T-ACASI also obtained less frequent reporting that respondent had a 'main sex partner' (A-OR = 0.56, P = 0.011) and discussed contraception prior to first sex with that sex partner (A-OR = 0.82, P = 0.094). For both males and females, T-ACASI obtained more frequent reports of first vaginal sex occurring at early ages (before ages 12 through 15). 'For males only', T-ACASI also elicited more frequent reports that first vaginal sex had 'not' occurred at later ages (i.e. by ages 20 through 24). CONCLUSION: T-ACASI increases the likelihood that survey respondents will report sensitive heterosexual behaviours.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: This study assesses the impact of Telephone Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing (T-ACASI) on the reporting of sensitive (mainly heterosexual) behaviours. METHODS: A randomized experiment was embedded in a telephone survey that drew probability samples of the populations of the USA (N = 1543) and Baltimore city (N = 744). Respondents were randomly assigned to have questions asked either by a T-ACASI computer or by a human telephone interviewer. RESULTS: Compared with interviewer-administered telephone surveys, T-ACASI obtained more frequent reporting of a range of mainly heterosexual behaviours that were presumed to be sensitive, including recency of anal sex [adjusted odds ratio (A-OR) = 2.00, P < 0.001), sex during menstrual period (A-OR = 1.49, P < 0.001), giving oral sex (A-OR = 1.40, P = 0.001) and receiving oral sex (A-OR = 1.36, P = 0.002), and sexual difficulties for the respondent (A-OR = 1.45, P = 0.034) and their main sex partner (A-OR = 1.48, P = 0.0). T-ACASI also obtained less frequent reporting that respondent had a 'main sex partner' (A-OR = 0.56, P = 0.011) and discussed contraception prior to first sex with that sex partner (A-OR = 0.82, P = 0.094). For both males and females, T-ACASI obtained more frequent reports of first vaginal sex occurring at early ages (before ages 12 through 15). 'For males only', T-ACASI also elicited more frequent reports that first vaginal sex had 'not' occurred at later ages (i.e. by ages 20 through 24). CONCLUSION: T-ACASI increases the likelihood that survey respondents will report sensitive heterosexual behaviours.
Authors: Thomas Harmon; Charles F Turner; Susan M Rogers; Elizabeth Eggleston; Anthony M Roman; Maria A Villarroel; James R Chromy; Laxminarayana Ganapathi; Sheping Li Journal: Public Opin Q Date: 2009-05-28
Authors: Charles F Turner; Maria A Villarroel; Susan M Rogers; Elizabeth Eggleston; Laxminarayana Ganapathi; Anthony M Roman; Alia Al-Tayyib Journal: Addiction Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: Maria A Villarroel; Charles F Turner; Elizabeth Eggleston; Alia Al-Tayyib; Susan M Rogers; Anthony M Roman; Philip C Cooley; Harper Gordek Journal: Public Opin Q Date: 2006
Authors: Maria A Villarroel; Charles F Turner; Susan M Rogers; Anthony M Roman; Phillip C Cooley; Allyna B Steinberg; Elizabeth Eggleston; James R Chromy Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 2008-05 Impact factor: 2.830
Authors: J A Catania; T J Coates; R Stall; H Turner; J Peterson; N Hearst; M M Dolcini; E Hudes; J Gagnon; J Wiley Journal: Science Date: 1992-11-13 Impact factor: 47.728
Authors: Jennifer McNeely; Charles M Cleland; Shiela M Strauss; Joseph J Palamar; John Rotrosen; Richard Saitz Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2015-05-19 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Anne W Taylor; Graham Martin; Eleonora Dal Grande; Sarah Swannell; Simon Fullerton; Philip Hazell; James E Harrison Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2011-02-17 Impact factor: 4.615
Authors: Sarah Burkill; Andrew Copas; Mick P Couper; Soazig Clifton; Philip Prah; Jessica Datta; Frederick Conrad; Kaye Wellings; Anne M Johnson; Bob Erens Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-02-11 Impact factor: 3.240