Citation

Buu A, Massey LS, Walton MAL, Cranford JA, Zimmerman MA, Cunningham RM. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017; 178: 159-164.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Bldg 10-G080, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: stroh@med.umich.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.05.003

PMID

28651151

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Interactive voice response (IVR) and short message service (SMS) systems have been used to collect daily process data on substance use. Yet, their relative compliance, use patterns, and user experiences are unknown. Furthermore, recent studies presented the potential of a hybrid weekly protocol requiring recall of behaviors in past week right after the weekend, in order to reduce the concerns about low compliance and measurement reactivity associated with daily data collection and also provide high quality data on the peak of use.

METHODS: This study randomized substance users to four (2×2) assessment groups with different combinations of assessment methods (IVR or SMS) and schedules (daily or weekly). The compliance rates and use patterns during the experimental period of 90days and user experiences reported after the period were compared across the groups.

RESULTS: When IVR was assigned, the weekly schedule generated a higher compliance rate than the daily schedule. When SMS was used, however, the assessment schedule did not have an effect on compliance. While both the daily and weekly surveys via IVR can be completed within a short time, the weekly survey administered via SMS took much longer than its daily counterpart. Such an increased time consumption may offset the benefit of a less frequent assessment schedule.

CONCLUSIONS: IVR is a better choice for delivering the hybrid protocol of weekly collection of daily process data because of its higher compliance rate, shorter duration, and lower likelihood of interruption during data collection.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Compliance; Daily process; Interactive voice response; Short message service; Use patterns; incentive