Citation

Penn JD, Thompson ELB. Am. J. Health Educ. 2019; 50(5): 272-282.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/19325037.2019.1642813

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Email surveys of health behaviors are convenient and low cost, but concerns remain regarding data accuracy and implications for health promotion.

PURPOSE: Compare the accuracy of email-collected survey data with classroom-collected data on college students' alcohol use, and compare strategies for addressing inaccuracies, including demographic weighting and continuum of resistance model.

METHODS: Data were gathered via email survey of 2,991 community college and research university students in October 2016 and via an in-person survey of 737 students at these same institutions in February 2017.

RESULTS: Classroom respondents were significantly more likely to report alcohol use and high-risk alcohol use, and reported more average weekly drinks than email respondents. Demographic weighting and the continuum of resistance model improved estimates but did not fix all inaccuracies.

DISCUSSION: Use caution in interpreting results from email surveys on alcohol use if those results do not include information on estimated nonresponse bias. Translation to Health Education practice: Results from email alcohol surveys should be weighted for demographic differences - particularly age and sex - and should use the continuum of resistance modification if indicated. Recommend collecting additional data through anon-email method to improve accuracy of estimates and inform decision-making about interventions and programs.A AJHE Self-Study quiz is online for this article via the SHAPE America Online Institute (SAOI) http://portal.shapeamerica.org/trn-Webinars

Language: en