Comparison of the Differences Between Web-Based and Traditional Questionnaire Surveys in Pediatrics: Comparative Survey Study

BackgroundA web-based survey is a novel method for data capture. Some studies have applied web-based surveys in pediatrics, but few of them have reported data on the differences between web-based and traditional questionnaire surveys. ObjectiveThe objective of our...

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Main Authors: Heping Fang, Ruoling Xian, Zhuoying Ma, Mingyue Lu, Yan Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2021-08-01
Series:Journal of Medical Internet Research
Online Access:https://www.jmir.org/2021/8/e30861
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author Heping Fang
Ruoling Xian
Zhuoying Ma
Mingyue Lu
Yan Hu
author_facet Heping Fang
Ruoling Xian
Zhuoying Ma
Mingyue Lu
Yan Hu
author_sort Heping Fang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundA web-based survey is a novel method for data capture. Some studies have applied web-based surveys in pediatrics, but few of them have reported data on the differences between web-based and traditional questionnaire surveys. ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to evaluate the internal consistency of a web-based survey and compare it with a traditional questionnaire survey in pediatrics. MethodsA convenience sample of caregivers was invited to participate in the survey on feeding patterns and their children’s eating behaviors if their children were aged 2 to 7 years. A web-based survey and a traditional questionnaire survey were carried out between October 2018 and July 2019. A total of 1085 caregivers were involved in this study, and they were divided into the following three groups based on methods and sources: (1) web-based survey from a web source, (2) web-based survey from a hospital source, and (3) traditional questionnaire survey from a hospital source. The data were then compared and analyzed. ResultsA total of 735 caregivers participated in the web-based survey and 350 caregivers participated in the traditional questionnaire survey, and 816 cases were then included in the analyses after data processing. The effective rate of the web-based survey was 70.1% (515/735), and the completeness rate of the traditional questionnaire survey was 86.0% (301/350). There were no significant differences between web-based surveys from different sources. However, demographic characteristics were significantly different between the web-based and traditional questionnaire surveys, mainly in terms of age and caregivers (χ²4=16.509, P=.002 and χ²4=111.464, P<.001, respectively). Caregivers of children aged 2 to 3 years and grandparents were more likely to respond to the web-based survey. Age-specific stratified analysis showed that the score of “monitoring” and the reporting rate of “poor appetite” in children aged 2 to 3 years were significantly higher in the web-based survey compared to the traditional questionnaire survey after adjusting for demographic characteristics. ConclusionsA web-based survey could be a feasible tool in pediatric studies. However, differences in demographic characteristics and their possible impacts on the results should be considered in the analyses.
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spelling doaj.art-4d07cd6631c74414a9446fd31667ddbf2023-08-28T18:34:09ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712021-08-01238e3086110.2196/30861Comparison of the Differences Between Web-Based and Traditional Questionnaire Surveys in Pediatrics: Comparative Survey StudyHeping Fanghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2064-1169Ruoling Xianhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5173-7315Zhuoying Mahttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6694-7721Mingyue Luhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3721-876XYan Huhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0180-2764 BackgroundA web-based survey is a novel method for data capture. Some studies have applied web-based surveys in pediatrics, but few of them have reported data on the differences between web-based and traditional questionnaire surveys. ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to evaluate the internal consistency of a web-based survey and compare it with a traditional questionnaire survey in pediatrics. MethodsA convenience sample of caregivers was invited to participate in the survey on feeding patterns and their children’s eating behaviors if their children were aged 2 to 7 years. A web-based survey and a traditional questionnaire survey were carried out between October 2018 and July 2019. A total of 1085 caregivers were involved in this study, and they were divided into the following three groups based on methods and sources: (1) web-based survey from a web source, (2) web-based survey from a hospital source, and (3) traditional questionnaire survey from a hospital source. The data were then compared and analyzed. ResultsA total of 735 caregivers participated in the web-based survey and 350 caregivers participated in the traditional questionnaire survey, and 816 cases were then included in the analyses after data processing. The effective rate of the web-based survey was 70.1% (515/735), and the completeness rate of the traditional questionnaire survey was 86.0% (301/350). There were no significant differences between web-based surveys from different sources. However, demographic characteristics were significantly different between the web-based and traditional questionnaire surveys, mainly in terms of age and caregivers (χ²4=16.509, P=.002 and χ²4=111.464, P<.001, respectively). Caregivers of children aged 2 to 3 years and grandparents were more likely to respond to the web-based survey. Age-specific stratified analysis showed that the score of “monitoring” and the reporting rate of “poor appetite” in children aged 2 to 3 years were significantly higher in the web-based survey compared to the traditional questionnaire survey after adjusting for demographic characteristics. ConclusionsA web-based survey could be a feasible tool in pediatric studies. However, differences in demographic characteristics and their possible impacts on the results should be considered in the analyses.https://www.jmir.org/2021/8/e30861
spellingShingle Heping Fang
Ruoling Xian
Zhuoying Ma
Mingyue Lu
Yan Hu
Comparison of the Differences Between Web-Based and Traditional Questionnaire Surveys in Pediatrics: Comparative Survey Study
Journal of Medical Internet Research
title Comparison of the Differences Between Web-Based and Traditional Questionnaire Surveys in Pediatrics: Comparative Survey Study
title_full Comparison of the Differences Between Web-Based and Traditional Questionnaire Surveys in Pediatrics: Comparative Survey Study
title_fullStr Comparison of the Differences Between Web-Based and Traditional Questionnaire Surveys in Pediatrics: Comparative Survey Study
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of the Differences Between Web-Based and Traditional Questionnaire Surveys in Pediatrics: Comparative Survey Study
title_short Comparison of the Differences Between Web-Based and Traditional Questionnaire Surveys in Pediatrics: Comparative Survey Study
title_sort comparison of the differences between web based and traditional questionnaire surveys in pediatrics comparative survey study
url https://www.jmir.org/2021/8/e30861
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AT zhuoyingma comparisonofthedifferencesbetweenwebbasedandtraditionalquestionnairesurveysinpediatricscomparativesurveystudy
AT mingyuelu comparisonofthedifferencesbetweenwebbasedandtraditionalquestionnairesurveysinpediatricscomparativesurveystudy
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