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Assessing smoking status in disadvantaged populations: is computer administered self report an accurate and acceptable measure?
- Source :
-
BMC medical research methodology [BMC Med Res Methodol] 2011 Nov 21; Vol. 11, pp. 153. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Nov 21. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Background: Self report of smoking status is potentially unreliable in certain situations and in high-risk populations. This study aimed to determine the accuracy and acceptability of computer administered self-report of smoking status among a low socioeconomic (SES) population.<br />Methods: Clients attending a community service organisation for welfare support were invited to complete a cross-sectional touch screen computer health survey. Following survey completion, participants were invited to provide a breath sample to measure exposure to tobacco smoke in expired air. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated.<br />Results: Three hundred and eighty three participants completed the health survey, and 330 (86%) provided a breath sample. Of participants included in the validation analysis, 59% reported being a daily or occasional smoker. Sensitivity was 94.4% and specificity 92.8%. The positive and negative predictive values were 94.9% and 92.0% respectively. The majority of participants reported that the touch screen survey was both enjoyable (79%) and easy (88%) to complete.<br />Conclusions: Computer administered self report is both acceptable and accurate as a method of assessing smoking status among low SES smokers in a community setting. Routine collection of health information using touch-screen computer has the potential to identify smokers and increase provision of support and referral in the community setting.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1471-2288
- Volume :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMC medical research methodology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22099396
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-11-153