Cross-sectional comparison of live and interactive voice recognition administration of the SF-12 health status survey.
OBJECTIVE
To compare interactive voice recognition (IVR) and live telephone methods for administering the SF-12 health status survey (SF-12).


METHODS
Patients with low back pain received either IVR or live interviews in a cross-sectional design with partial randomization. The interviews consisted of the SF-12 and some additional questions specific to low back pain.


METHODS
Complete findings were obtainable from 229 patients. Summary scales were compared by using multivariate analysis of variance with mean comparisons for continuously scored items. Response frequencies for categorically scored items were compared by using the chi-square test.


RESULTS
The 2 methods produced similar results on the Physical Component Summary scale but not the Mental Component Summary scale. Compared with patients who had a live telephone interview, the patients using IVR acknowledged significantly greater overall mental interference, greater general emotional concerns, and poorer mood and overall health.


CONCLUSIONS
Because IVR eliminates the demand characteristics of responding to a personal interviewer, it may be a desirable way to evaluate sensitive topics. It also may reduce costs of data entry, labor, and measurement error.
Millard
R W
RW
Patient Infosystems, Rochester, NY 14607, USA. rmillard@ptisys.com
Carver
J R
JR
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D011594:Psychometrics; D012647:Self-Assessment; D014481:United States; D014831:Voice