<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0001_s_006_w2aab2b8b4b1b7b1aab1c16b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Electronic survey mode has become a more common tool of research than it used to be previously. This is strongly associated with the overall digitization of modern society. However, the evidence on the possible mode effect on study results has been scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the comparability of findings on health and behaviours using a paper-versus-electronic mode of survey with randomization design among schoolchildren.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0001_s_007_w2aab2b8b4b1b7b1aab1c16b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>A randomized study was conducted using a mandatory questionnaire on international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Lithuania, enrolling 531 schoolchildren aged 11–15 years. The questionnaire included health and social topics about physical activity, risk behaviours, self-reported health and symptoms, life satisfaction, bullying, fighting, family and school environment, peer relationships, electronic media communication, sociodemographic indicators, etc. The schoolchildren within classes were randomly selected for electronic or paper mode.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0001_s_008_w2aab2b8b4b1b7b1aab1c16b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>It was found that by study mode differences are inconsistent and in the majority of cases do not exceed 5%-point difference between the modes. The only significant difference was that in the paper survey the participants reported more exercise than in the electronic survey (OR=8.08, P&lt;.001). Other trends were nonsignificant and did not show a consistent pattern – in certain behaviours the paper mode was related to healthier choices, while in others - the electronic.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0001_s_009_w2aab2b8b4b1b7b1aab1c16b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The use of electronic questionnaires in surveys of schoolchildren may provide findings that are comparable with concurrent or previously conducted paper surveys.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionElectronic survey mode has become a more common tool of research than it used to be previously. This is strongly associated with the overall digitization of modern society. However, the evidence on the possible mode effect on study results has been scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the comparability of findings on health and behaviours using a paper-versus-electronic mode of survey with randomization design among schoolchildren.MethodsA randomized study was conducted using a mandatory questionnaire on international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Lithuania, enrolling 531 schoolchildren aged 11–15 years. The questionnaire included health and social topics about physical activity, risk behaviours, self-reported health and symptoms, life satisfaction, bullying, fighting, family and school environment, peer relationships, electronic media communication, sociodemographic indicators, etc. The schoolchildren within classes were randomly selected for electronic or paper mode.ResultsIt was found that by study mode differences are inconsistent and in the majority of cases do not exceed 5%-point difference between the modes. The only significant difference was that in the paper survey the participants reported more exercise than in the electronic survey (OR=8.08, P<.001). Other trends were nonsignificant and did not show a consistent pattern – in certain behaviours the paper mode was related to healthier choices, while in others - the electronic.ConclusionsThe use of electronic questionnaires in surveys of schoolchildren may provide findings that are comparable with concurrent or previously conducted paper surveys.

Measurement of health and social behaviors in schoolchildren: Randomized study comparing paper versus electronic mode

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Meritve zdravstvenega in socialnega vedenja pri šoloobveznih otrocih: Randomizirana študija, ki primerja uporabo tiskanih in elektronskih vprašalnikov

IntroductionElectronic survey mode has become a more common tool of research than it used to be previously. This is strongly associated with the overall...

Measurement of health and social behaviors in schoolchildren: Randomized study comparing paper versus electronic mode

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Jan 21, 2019

Page range: 1 - 10

Received: Mar 19, 2018

Accepted: Nov 13, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2019-0001

Keywords
school-aged children, health behavior, social support, prevalence, validity, reliability, questionnaire design, Lithuania

© 2019 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Measurement of health and social behaviors in schoolchildren: Randomized study comparing paper versus electronic mode

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Jan 21, 2019

Page range: 1 - 10

Received: Mar 19, 2018

Accepted: Nov 13, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2019-0001

Keywordsschool-aged children, health behavior, social support, prevalence, validity, reliability, questionnaire design, Lithuania

© 2019 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
school-aged children, health behavior, social support, prevalence, validity, reliability, questionnaire design, Lithuania