1. GAP Toolkit 5 Training in basic drug abuse data management and analysis Training session 6 Coding open questions

2. Objectives To distinguish between the coding of open and closed questions To establish a set of practical coding rules for open questions To describe standard coding schemes, including those used in the Annual Reports Questionnaire

3. Open questions The set of all possible answers is unknown Post-coding at some level is required

4. Example “Please use the space below to document any other developments in prevalence and patterns of drug abuse in your country over the past year.” (Annual Reports Questionnaire: Summary expert opinions, p. 14.)

5. Examples 1.Primary drug of use (specify): ……………………………….. 2.Other (specify): ………………………………..

6. Coding approaches Anticipate as many of the responses as possible and pre-code the question as a list with an Other category Where no pre-coding has occurred, establish a list of categories by: –Sampling a percentage of the completed questionnaires, or –Using an alphanumeric variable in SPSS and the frequency command

7. Level of detail Maintain the highest level of detail possible Recode when the analysis requires it

8. Standard coding schemes Benefits: –Comparability –Ease Annual Reports Questionnaire coding schemes

9. Definition of data elements Drug categories Age categories Time periods Modes of ingestion

10. Annual Reports Questionnaire drug categories

11. Drug classes and types Drug classes provide categories for a range of drug types Types are a subset of classes

12. Drug classes Cannabis-type Opioids Cocaine-type Amphetamine-type Sedatives and tranquillizers Hallucinogens Solvents and inhalants Other drugs

13. Drug types Marijuana Hashish Heroin Opium Other opioids Cocaine powder Crack cocaine Other cocaine Amphetamine Methamphetamine Ecstasy-type Barbiturates Benzodiazepines LSD Other hallucinogens Solvents and inhalers Other drugs

14. Annual Reports Questionnaire age categories

15. Age categories XAge in years ChildrenX <= 12 Young teens13 <= X <= 14 Late teens15 <= X <= 16 Young adults17 <= X <= 24 Adults25 <= X <= 34 Older adults35 <= X

16. Time periods Lifetime Annual Current Daily

17. Mode of ingestion Oral consumption –Eating –Drinking –Swallowing Sniffing and snorting Smoking or inhaling sublimate Injection

18. Summary Open questions –Anticipate and pre-code with an Other category –Let the data decide, post-code Standard coding categories –Drug types and classes –Age groups –Time periods –Mode of ingestion