Assessment of self-report in HIV surveillance: a pilot study

Differential effectiveness of telephone prompts by medical and nonmedical staff in increasing survey response rates: a randomised trial

We conducted a randomised trial to determine the differential effectiveness of a telephone prompt by a medical researcher compared with a nonmedical research assistant in improving response rates of general practitioners to a survey and to compare personnel costs. A national random sample of Australian general practitioners was allocated randomly to two intervention groups. In advance of a self-administered questionnaire, Group A (n = 184) received a telephone prompt by a medical researcher and Group B (n = 189) a prompt by an experienced nonmedical research assistant. Other aspects of survey administration were identical for both groups. The five-month cumulative response rate obtained by the medical researcher (81 per cent) was not significantly different from that of 72 percent obtained by the research assistant (chi 2 = 3.3, 1 df, P = 0.07). For Group A, 279 telephone calls, consuming 23 hours 15 minutes, were made. Group B required more calls (384) and more time (32 hours). Using the relevant award pay scales, the estimated personnel costs for each group were $631 and $601 respectively. We conclude that an experienced nonmedical research assistant is as effective as a medical practitioner in administering telephone prompts to enhance survey response rates, although savings are not necessarily made.

Ascertaining exposure categories of HIV-infected individuals with previously unrecorded risk data

OBJECTIVES

To improve the quality of surveillance data for HIV in Victoria by following up all cases with an unknown exposure category; and to determine whether those with no exposure category included cases of transmission other than via the conventionally recognised routes.

METHODS

The Victorian HIV database records data on all people diagnosed with HIV in Victoria, including information on route of exposure to the virus. We identified all HIV diagnoses to which no exposure category had been attributed and, with the permission of the State Minister for Health, obtained access to namecoded testing records. Exposure categories, where possible, were obtained directly from these records. Otherwise, cases were checked against the namecoded AIDS database and, if necessary, an intensive process of call-back to laboratories, diagnosing doctors and HIV treatment centres was undertaken.

RESULTS

The database initially contained records for 289 people with unknown exposure categories (9.1% of Victorian people with HIV infection). We identified exposure categories for 155 of these people.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure categories for those cases previously without data were similar to those for cases where exposure category was known. No instances of HIV transmission by previously unrecognised means were detected.