Look First! Is there a pre-existing questionnaire which has been used for a similar purpose? Are there ‘question groups’ from validated questionnaires that you could use?
Stages in Carrying out a Survey define the purpose define the population sample design the form arrange the form code the data collect the data review forms data entry analysis
Define the EXACT Purpose Complete Informative Precise
The Population In general, surveys are focussed upon a particular population be it in terms of: - age sex disease occupation socioeconomic group geographical location health service region service user
Examples of Population Definitions Consecutive sample of 389 patients requesting emergency house calls from a independent emergency care organisation in Geneva, Switzerland. All pupils in grades 1 and 3 from the secondary schools in Vaxjo, in southern Sweden, were invited to participate in the study.
Examples of Population Definitions contd.... Mailed a questionnaire to all Japanese hypertension specialists. 553 randomly selected and 204 symptomatic participants aged between 20 and 44 years completed a detailed respiratory questionnaire.
Sampling
Methods of Sampling Random Systematic Stratified Cluster
Resource Limitations
The Questions Construction –wording of prime importance appropriate intelligible unambiguous unbiased coded
The Questions Construction –avoid complex, leading, highbrow, irritating, negative and open-ended questions –anticipate type and range of responses
The Questions Sequence –logical –non-threatening –encouraging
Ethical! Your final questionnaire MUST be ethical. Ethical committees will scrutinise what you are asking!
Colour code Clear, attractive layout Fonts –questions –instructions Title
Pre-Test & Pilot Your Form On colleagues On a small sample of target audience Revise!
Interviewers Appropriate to target group –gender –age –personality –socioeconomic status –appearance
Interviewers Training/briefing/ ownership Quality control
Reviewing the Forms
Quality Control If you cannot identify any problems with the forms - look again - you have missed them!
After Data Collection & Review? Data coding Input data Validate Analyse Report
Questionnaires in Medicine Diagnostic tools Clinical assessment Research Efficiency & Effectiveness of...
What is a Validated Questionnaire A survey instrument which has been established to be sound by multiple trials yielding consistent results
Clinical Assessment Administered routinely Easy, quick and reproducible Contributing to –diagnosis –management –treatment