Implementation of a Computerized Tablet‐Survey in an Adolescent Large‐Scale, School‐Based Study

• Published in: The Journal of school health Vol. 87; no. 7; pp. 506 - 512
• Main Authors: Delk, Joanne, Harrell, Melissa B., Fakhouri, Tala H.I., Muir, Katelyn A., Perry, Cheryl L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Wiley Periodicals, Inc 01.07.2017; Wiley-Blackwell; American School Health Association; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; adolescent health; Adolescents; Computerization; Computers; Computers, Handheld; Exposure; Feasibility; Female; Handheld Devices; Health aspects; Health Behavior; High School Students; Humans; Identification; Interviews as Topic - methods; Inventories; Item Analysis; Male; Marketing; Marketing - methods; Middle School Students; Nursing; Online Surveys; Pictorial Stimuli; Polls & surveys; Questionnaires; Schools; school‐based research; Smoking; Smoking - psychology; Student Attitudes; Student Surveys; Students; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; survey administration; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tablet computer; Tablet computers; Tablets; Teenagers; Tobacco; Tobacco products; tobacco use; Youth; survey administration; school-based research; tobacco use; adolescent health
• ISSN: 0022-4391; 1746-1561
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12521

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Computerized surveys present many advantages over paper surveys. However, school‐based adolescent research questionnaires still mainly rely on paper‐and‐pencil surveys as access to computers in schools is often not practical. Tablet‐assisted self‐interviews (TASI) present a possible solution, but their use is largely untested. This paper presents a method for and our experiences with implementing a TASI in a school setting. METHODS A TASI was administered to 3907 middle and high school students from 79 schools. The survey assessed use of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco marketing. To assess in‐depth tobacco use behaviors, the TASI employed extensive skip patterns to reduce the number of not‐applicable questions that nontobacco users received. Pictures were added to help respondents identify the tobacco products they were being queried about. RESULTS Students were receptive to the tablets and required no instructions in their use. None were lost, stolen, or broken. Item nonresponse, unanswered questions, was a pre‐administration concern; however, 92% of participants answered 96% or more of the questions. CONCLUSIONS This method was feasible and successful among a diverse population of students and schools. It generated a unique dataset of in‐depth tobacco use behaviors that would not have been possible through a paper‐and‐pencil survey.