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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2021-08-01
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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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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-4d07cd6631c74414a9446fd31667ddbf |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1438-8871 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-12T13:03:19Z |
publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
publisher | JMIR Publications |
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series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
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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