BACKGROUND: Survey-driven research is a reliable method for large-scale data collection. Investigators incorporating mixed-mode survey designs report benefits for survey research including greater engagement, improved survey access, and higher response rate. Mix-mode survey designs combine 2 or more modes for data collection including web, phone, face-to-face, and mail. Types of mixed-mode survey designs include simultaneous (ie, concurrent), sequential, delayed concurrent, and adaptive. This paper describes a research protocol using mixed-mode survey designs to explore health IT (HIT) maturity and care environments reported by administrators and nurse practitioners (NPs), respectively, in US nursing homes (NHs).
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe a research protocol using mixed-mode survey designs in research using 2 survey tools to explore HIT maturity and NP care environments in US NHs.
METHODS: We are conducting a national survey of 1400 NH administrators and NPs. Two data sets (ie, Care Compare and IQVIA) were used to identify eligible facilities at random. The protocol incorporates 2 surveys to explore how HIT maturity (survey 1 collected by administrators) impacts care environments where NPs work (survey 2 collected by NPs). Higher HIT maturity collected by administrators indicates greater IT capabilities, use, and integration in resident care, clinical support, and administrative activities. The NP care environment survey measures relationships, independent practice, resource availability, and visibility. The research team conducted 3 iterative focus groups, including 14 clinicians (NP and NH experts) and recruiters from 2 national survey teams experienced with these populations to achieve consensus on which mixed-mode designs to use. During focus groups we identified the pros and cons of using mixed-mode designs in these settings. We determined that 2 mixed-mode designs with regular follow-up calls (Delayed Concurrent Mode and Sequential Mode) is effective for recruiting NH administrators while a concurrent mixed-mode design is best to recruit NPs.
RESULTS: Participant recruitment for the project began in June 2023. As of April 22, 2024, a total of 98 HIT maturity surveys and 81 NP surveys have been returned. Recruitment of NH administrators and NPs is anticipated through July 2025. About 71% of the HIT maturity surveys have been submitted using the electronic link and 23% were submitted after a QR code was sent to the administrator. Approximately 95% of the NP surveys were returned with electronic survey links.
CONCLUSIONS: Pros of mixed-mode designs for NH research identified by the team were that delayed concurrent, concurrent, and sequential mixed-mode methods of delivering surveys to potential participants save on recruitment time compared to single mode delivery methods. One disadvantage of single-mode strategies is decreased versatility and adaptability to different organizational capabilities (eg, access to email and firewalls), which could reduce response rates.
UNASSIGNED: DERR1-10.2196/56170.

BACKGROUND: Bullying and harassment in the workplace are increasingly recognized as hazardous exposures associated with poor mental health and suicidality. The construction sector has one of the highest rates of suicide among all occupations and is actively engaged in efforts to destigmatize mental health support. However, there has been less focus on reducing factors that may be contributing to poor well-being among construction workers.
METHODS: As a step toward addressing work-related determinants of mental health in construction, we collaborated with a large construction union to survey members about their experiences of abusive conduct. We adapted standardized questionnaires to better suit the sector, such as by assessing \"hazing that went too far\" and apprenticeship status. Additionally, we included questions on reporting of abuse, concern about the impacts of abuse, and an open-response to allow participants to share their perspectives.
RESULTS: We developed and tested a carefully-tailored survey of abusive conduct. The responses to the survey (over 3300, including 500 narrative responses) will facilitate data-driven interventions with the potential to prevent and address abuse. This paper describes the survey development process in collaboration with the union, domains of abuse that are relevant to the construction context, and the survey protocol.
CONCLUSIONS: Through a collaborative effort, we developed an instrument to understand abusive conduct in construction and benchmark success in reducing adverse experiences of bullying and harassment. We recommend its use throughout the sector to reduce exposure to this well-being hazard.

Responsive survey design is a technique aimed at improving the efficiency or quality of surveys by using incoming data from the field to make design changes. The technique was pioneered on large national surveys, but the tools can also be applied on the smaller-scale surveys most commonly used by sociologists. We demonstrate responsive survey design in a small-scale, list-based sample survey of students on the topic of sexual misconduct. We investigate the impact of individual incentive levels and a two-phase responsive design with changes to mode of contact as approaches for limiting the potential of nonresponse bias in data from such surveys. Our analyses demonstrate that a two-phase design introducing telephone and face-to-face reminders to complete the survey can produce stronger change in response rates and characteristics of those who respond than higher incentive levels. These findings offer tools for sociologists designing smaller-scale surveys of special populations or sensitive topics.

UNASSIGNED: Approximately 82,000 people are in prison annually in England and Wales. Limited research has investigated cancer in this population and none has explored experiences of imprisoned people with cancer. This study aimed to address this gap.
UNASSIGNED: We conducted 55 semi-structured, qualitative, audio-recorded interviews with: imprisoned people with cancer (n = 24), custodial staff (n = 6), prison healthcare staff (n = 16) and oncology specialists (n = 9). Data were collected 07/10/2019-20/03/2020. Patients were recruited by prison healthcare staff and interviews were conducted face-to-face. Professionals were recruited via professional networks and interviews were conducted face-to-face or via telephone. Transcribed interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. We also analysed relevant National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES) questions for those diagnosed in prison (n = 78) and in the general population (n = 390).
UNASSIGNED: Our findings highlight the complexities of cancer care for imprisoned people. We identified three core themes: control and choice, communication, and care and custody. Whilst people in prison follow a similar diagnostic pathway to those in the community, additional barriers to diagnosis exist including health literacy, the General Practitioner appointment booking system and communication between prison and oncology staff. Tensions between control and choice in prison impacted aspects of cancer care experience such as symptom management and accessing cancer information. NCPES results supported the qualitative findings and showed people in prison reported significantly poorer experiences than in the general population.
UNASSIGNED: Our findings demonstrate the complexity of cancer care in custodial settings, identifying barriers and enablers to equitable cancer care provision and offering insights on how to improve care for this population.
UNASSIGNED: National Institute for Health and Social Care Research Delivery Research Programme 16/52/53 and Strategic Priorities Fund 2019/20 Research England via University of Surrey.

OBJECTIVE: Develop and test a Food-Related Control Scale (FRCS) measuring resident-perceived control in long-term care food service.
METHODS: A bank of 15 initial items based on a multidimensional locus of control construct was developed initially. Expert review, cognitive interviews, a pilot study, and factor analysis were used to validate the instrument and assess reliability.
METHODS: Individual phone-based cognitive interviews and 16 skilled nursing facilities in the US.
METHODS: Cognitive interviews included a convenience sample of independently living adults aged ≥ 65 (n = 13), whereas the pilot study included skilled nursing facility-residing adults (n = 166).
METHODS: Perception of food-related control in a long-term care setting.
METHODS: Cognitive interviews were analyzed to develop items. Quantitative data from skilled nursing facility residents were analyzed using SAS software for structural equation modeling and factor analysis.
RESULTS: A 2-dimensional construct (9 items) of the FRCS demonstrated reliability with factor analysis. Concurrent validity within the locus of control construct was demonstrated with the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (standardized estimate of 0.430; P < 0.1).
CONCLUSIONS: The FRCS may be used to determine how residents in long-term care perceive control over their food experiences. Further testing is necessary to determine the appropriateness of the FRCS for different population uses.

This article is part of a series of articles in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics exploring the importance of research design, epidemiological methods, and statistical analysis as applied to nutrition and dietetics research. The purpose of this ongoing statistical portfolio is to assist registered dietitian nutritionists and nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered with interpreting nutrition research and applying scientific principles to produce high-quality data analysis. A survey is a systematic method for collecting reportable information on a topic of interest. Developing, adapting, and conducting survey research is a complex process; its aim is to collect accurate and useful data for the intended purpose and context. This article, which accompanies a companion article on electronic survey research, is an overview of survey methodology for data collection and analysis in nutrition and dietetics research. Its purpose is to highlight the general principles and components of survey development and survey administration that would maximize the validity of the data obtained. The goal is to provide a practical guide on the design and implementation of a survey as a method for data collection. Supporting figures are provided for use in direct application by practitioners and students.

Surveys of health professionals typically have low response rates, which have decreased in recent years. We report on the methods used, participation rates, and study time for 11 national questionnaire studies of dentists conducted from 2014-2022. Participation rates decreased (87%-25%). Concurrent with this decrease was a decrease in the intensity with which the practitioners were recruited. Participation rates were higher when postal mail invitation and paper options were used (84% vs. 58%, p < .001). Completion rates were nearly twice as high in studies that recruited in waves than those that did not (61% vs. 35%, p = .003). Study time varied from 2.6 to 28.4 weeks. Study time was longest when postal mail and completion on paper were used (26.0 vs. 11.3 weeks, p = .01). Among studies using only online methods, study time was longer when invitations were staggered than when all invitations went out in one bolus (means 12.0 and 5.2, p = .04). Study time was positively correlated with participation rates (Spearman r = .80, p = .005). General dentists participated at an average of 12% higher rates than specialists. Recruitment methodology, such as recruiting in waves or stages, should be considered when designing surveys.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to pilot an innovative cartoon video vignette survey methodology to learn about young people\'s perspectives on abortion and sexual relationships in Tanzania. The Animating Children\'s Views methodology used videos shown on tablets to engage young people in conversations. Such conversations are complicated because abortion is highly stigmatized, inaccessible, and illegal in Tanzania.
METHODS: The cartoon video vignette methodology was conducted as a part of a quantitative survey using tablet computers. Hypothetical situations and euphemistic expressions were tested in order to engage adolescents on sensitive topics in low-risk ways. Qualitative interviews and focus groups validated and further explored the perspectives of the young respondents.
RESULTS: Results indicate that 12-17 year-olds usually understand euphemistic expressions for abortion and are aware of social stigma and contradictory norms surrounding abortion from as young as age twelve. Despite the risks involved with abortion, this study finds adolescents sometimes view abortion as a reasonable solution to allow a girl to remain in school. Additional findings show that as adolescents wrestle with how to respond to a schoolgirl\'s pregnancy, they are considering both the (un)affordability of healthcare services and also expectations for gender roles.
CONCLUSIONS: Digital data collection, such as the Animating Children\'s Views cartoon video vignettes used in this study, allows researchers to better understand girls\' and boys\' own perspectives on their experiences and reproductive health.
The Animating Children’s Views project used cartoon video vignettes to collect quantitative and qualitative data on girls’ and boys’ (infrequently included) perspectives about this sensitive topic as these young people aged into and figured out how to navigate sexual maturity in rural and urban Tanzania. This novel survey technique leveraged digital technology to better engage young people’s perspectives about sensitive health topics. Despite the risks involved with abortion, this study finds adolescents sometimes view abortion as a reasonable solution to allow a girl to remain in school. Additional findings show that as adolescents wrestle with how to respond to a schoolgirl’s pregnancy, they are considering both the (un)affordability of healthcare services and also expectations for gender roles. We argue that digital data collection allows survey research to include girls and boys, to better understand how reproductive health outcomes are inextricably linked to their future lives.

Recognizing the value of experiential education in social/behavioral science research training, we designed and offered a simulation of a survey research project for doctoral students in education. Through three phases of the project, from instrument design through scale investigation and quantitative analyses, students are developed as researchers in a realistic and authentic way. In this paper, we highlight the advantages, challenges, and outcomes from applying simulation methods within graduate research methods courses, with a specific focus on survey methodology and quantitative skill development.

Environmental interactions of marine renewable energy developments vary from fine-scale direct (e.g. potential collision) to indirect wide-scale hydrodynamic changes altering oceanographic features. Current UK Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and associated Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) guidelines have limited focus on underlying processes affecting distribution and movements (hence vulnerability) of top predators. This study integrates multi-trophic ship survey (active acoustics and observer data) with an upward-facing seabed platform and 3-dimensional hydrodynamic model as a process-driven framework to investigate predator-prey linkages between seabirds and fish schools. Observer-only data highlighted the need to measure physical drivers of variance in species abundances and distributions. Active acoustics indicated that in situ (preferable to modelled) data were needed to identify temporal changes in hydrodynamics to predict prey and consequently top predator presence. Revising methods to identify key habitats and environmental covariates within current regulatory frameworks will enable more robust and transferable EIA and HRA processes and outputs, and at larger scales for cumulative and strategic-level assessments, enabling future modelling of ecosystem impacts from both climate change and renewable energy extraction.