Random digit dialing and directory-based samples in telephone surveys of HIV risk: a comparison from the Australian Study of Health and Relationships.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the estimates of HIV-related risk derived from a sample drawn through random digit dialing and that component of the sample drawn from households listed in a telephone directory.


METHODS
The prevalence of key outcomes, and their 95% confidence intervals, was estimated for the total sample and for that component of the sample drawn from households listed in a telephone directory.


RESULTS
On all outcome measures the sample derived from listed households was more conservative. With few exceptions, the estimates derived from the overall sample and from listed households were not significantly different.


CONCLUSIONS
A continued reliance on random digit dialing seems unwarranted.
Smith
Anthony M A
AM
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. anthony.smith@latrobe.edu.au
de Visser
Richard O
RO
Rissel
Chris E
CE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004181:Directories as Topic; D005191:Family Characteristics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013689:Telephone