The Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Neglected Methodology of Web-Based Questionnaires Among Chinese Health Workers: Web-Based Questionnaire Study
BackgroundWeb-based questionnaire (WBQ) surveys are popular, but the quality of reporting WBQ survey research is uneven and unsatisfactory worldwide. Education and training on WBQ methodology may be necessary. However, the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JMIR Publications
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e41591 |
| _version_ | 1797734454689529856 |
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| author | Heping Fang Yuxin Lv Lin Chen Xuan Zhang Yan Hu |
| author_facet | Heping Fang Yuxin Lv Lin Chen Xuan Zhang Yan Hu |
| author_sort | Heping Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundWeb-based questionnaire (WBQ) surveys are popular, but the quality of reporting WBQ survey research is uneven and unsatisfactory worldwide. Education and training on WBQ methodology may be necessary. However, the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of its methodology remain unknown.
ObjectiveWe investigated the KAP of WBQ methodology among Chinese health workers for the first time to clarify the possible reasons for the unsatisfactory reporting quality of WBQ survey research from China’s experience, aiming to provide a basis for improvement.
MethodsWe developed a structured WBQ based on the current recommendations and knowledge and investigated 458 health workers from June 7 to July 6, 2022. A total of 381 valid questionnaires were analyzed after data processing. We defined 50% and 75% as “qualified” and “satisfactory” in knowledge and practice topics to describe the results and analyzed the basic characteristics of the participants who had difficulties in conducting WBQ survey research.
ResultsA total of 215 (56.4%) participants had used WBQs for investigation, mostly more than 2 times (88.3%), but only 95 (44.2%) of them had ever received methodological training. A total of 134 (62.3%) users believed that WBQs were practical, but 126 (58.6%) had doubts about the reliability of the results. Most of the knowledge and practice topics did not reach a satisfactory level, and some even did not reach a qualified level. A total of 95 (44.2%)-136 (63.3%) of the users had reported difficulties in conducting WBQ survey research, and different participants could have different difficulties according to their characteristics. In addition, 191 (88.8%) users believed training was necessary.
ConclusionsWe found that Chinese health workers seriously underestimated and neglected the importance of the WBQ methodology, which may be an important reason for the reduced reporting quality of WBQ survey research. Medical educators need to strengthen methodological training on WBQs, which may help to improve the quality of WBQ survey research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:44:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3bfb48293bc04815bde909ead5b0f427 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:44:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-3bfb48293bc04815bde909ead5b0f4272023-08-28T23:31:21ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712023-01-0125e4159110.2196/41591The Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Neglected Methodology of Web-Based Questionnaires Among Chinese Health Workers: Web-Based Questionnaire StudyHeping Fanghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2064-1169Yuxin Lvhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0209-7462Lin Chenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5326-1955Xuan Zhanghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5657-9424Yan Huhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0180-2764 BackgroundWeb-based questionnaire (WBQ) surveys are popular, but the quality of reporting WBQ survey research is uneven and unsatisfactory worldwide. Education and training on WBQ methodology may be necessary. However, the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of its methodology remain unknown. ObjectiveWe investigated the KAP of WBQ methodology among Chinese health workers for the first time to clarify the possible reasons for the unsatisfactory reporting quality of WBQ survey research from China’s experience, aiming to provide a basis for improvement. MethodsWe developed a structured WBQ based on the current recommendations and knowledge and investigated 458 health workers from June 7 to July 6, 2022. A total of 381 valid questionnaires were analyzed after data processing. We defined 50% and 75% as “qualified” and “satisfactory” in knowledge and practice topics to describe the results and analyzed the basic characteristics of the participants who had difficulties in conducting WBQ survey research. ResultsA total of 215 (56.4%) participants had used WBQs for investigation, mostly more than 2 times (88.3%), but only 95 (44.2%) of them had ever received methodological training. A total of 134 (62.3%) users believed that WBQs were practical, but 126 (58.6%) had doubts about the reliability of the results. Most of the knowledge and practice topics did not reach a satisfactory level, and some even did not reach a qualified level. A total of 95 (44.2%)-136 (63.3%) of the users had reported difficulties in conducting WBQ survey research, and different participants could have different difficulties according to their characteristics. In addition, 191 (88.8%) users believed training was necessary. ConclusionsWe found that Chinese health workers seriously underestimated and neglected the importance of the WBQ methodology, which may be an important reason for the reduced reporting quality of WBQ survey research. Medical educators need to strengthen methodological training on WBQs, which may help to improve the quality of WBQ survey research.https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e41591 |
| spellingShingle | Heping Fang Yuxin Lv Lin Chen Xuan Zhang Yan Hu The Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Neglected Methodology of Web-Based Questionnaires Among Chinese Health Workers: Web-Based Questionnaire Study Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | The Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Neglected Methodology of Web-Based Questionnaires Among Chinese Health Workers: Web-Based Questionnaire Study |
| title_full | The Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Neglected Methodology of Web-Based Questionnaires Among Chinese Health Workers: Web-Based Questionnaire Study |
| title_fullStr | The Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Neglected Methodology of Web-Based Questionnaires Among Chinese Health Workers: Web-Based Questionnaire Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Neglected Methodology of Web-Based Questionnaires Among Chinese Health Workers: Web-Based Questionnaire Study |
| title_short | The Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Neglected Methodology of Web-Based Questionnaires Among Chinese Health Workers: Web-Based Questionnaire Study |
| title_sort | current knowledge attitudes and practices of the neglected methodology of web based questionnaires among chinese health workers web based questionnaire study |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e41591 |
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