Ronald Czaja

The Determinants and Consequences of Information Seeking Among Cancer Patients

This research was designed to examine information seeking behavior among cancer patients. We present a model which identifies the determinants and consequences of information seeking and, in turn, examines the effects of prior variables on four outcome variables: whether patients discussed with their physicians information that they received from other sources, whether the information they obtained helped them make decisions about treatment or care, whether the patient sought a second opinion about his/her diagnosis or treatment, and changes in self-reported stress levels from diagnosis to the time of interview. The model is estimated separately for three groups: patients who sought information from multiple sources including the National Cancer Institutes Cancer Information Service, patients who sought information from multiple sources but did not call the Cancer Information Service, and patients who did not seek information other than from their physician(s). We discuss variables that have similar impacts on outcome variables in all three groups as well as variables that operate differently within the groups. The results indicate that the desire for information and the desire for involvement in medical care decisions are independent factors. Some patients have a strong desire for both information and involvement in making health care decisions. These patients actively seek involvement in their treatment plans. Other patients, however, want to be informed about their disease and treatment but prefer to delegate most decision-making to their physicians. Still other patients choose to delegate information gathering and decision making exclusively to their physicians. We discuss the implications of these results for both patients and providers.

Asking sensitive behavioral questions in telephone interviews

This article presents the results of a small pilot study to test the feasibility of telephone interviews for collecting highly sensitive data for a study of the etiology of trophoblastic disease. The study design allowed us to compare data from telephone and face-to-face interviews. The results suggest that very sensitive information can be obtained by telephone and that respondents interviewed by telephone may be more willing to report socially proscribed behavior than respondents interviewed face-to-face. A number of unanswered issues are suggested for future research.

Factors Associated With Response Rates in a National Survey of Primary Care Physicians

This article addresses the results and implications of offering a national sample of primary care physicians an option to complete a questionnaire by mail or phone. An overall cooperation rate of 62.7% was achieved; 55% of the interviews were completed via telephone. Noticeable differences in rate of cooperation and mode preference were observed across the four physician specialties surveyed. The importance of a lengthy field period, due to differences between early and late responders on variables important to the study, is also demonstrated.

Reporting Bias and Sampling Errors in a Survey of a Rare Population Using Multiplicity Counting Rules

Abstract This article examines a methodology to improve the efficiency of surveys to locate and estimate characteristics of rare populations. Two multiplicity counting rules are compared with a conventional rule in terms of reporting errors, sample variances, and survey yields. The analysis is based on data from two survey field experiments with diagnosed cancer patients and a subsample of their siblings or children who reside outside their households. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the circumstances in which a multiplicity counting rule is the preferred methodology and those in which other approaches should be pursued.

Locating a Special Population Using Random Digit Dialing

Frequently, researchers are only interested in specific subgroups of the total population. Waksberg (1978) has designed a two-stage method of selecting equalprobability samples of the general population using random digit dialing. The present research proposes and illustrates a modification of Waksbergs procedure to locate special populations which cluster geographically. Situations arising from the proposed modifications are discussed and alternative solutions suggested. Johnny Blair is the Head of Sampling at the Survey Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Ronald Czaja is the Assistant Director of the Survey Research Laboratory and Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Illinois, Chicago. The authors wish to thank the many colleagues at the Survey Research Laboratory who provided helpful suggestions. Public Opinion Quarterly Vol. 46:585-590 ? 1982 by the Trustees of Columbia University Published by Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc. 0033-362X/82/0046-585/

Integrating Sociological Research into Large Introductory Courses: Learning Content and Increasing Quantitative Literacy.

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Using network sampling in crime victimization surveys

Sociologists can make meaningful contributions to quantitative literacy by teaching sociological research skills in sociology classes, including introductory courses. We report on the effectiveness of requiring a research module in a large introductory class. The module is designed to teach both basic research skills and to increase awareness of race and gender inequality. We find that a majority of students are able to interpret basic percentage tables with a minimum of instruction. Under the condition that students are willing to acknowledge inequality in our occupational system, completing the research assignment increases their awareness of race and gender inequality. We argue that one of sociologys most powerful contributions to quantitative literacy is that our core content provides a challenging and relevant context in which to learn quantitative skills.

Response Effects in a Network Survey

Since crime victimizations are statistically rare events, surveys to estimate rates of victimization are difficult and expensive. In this paper, we examine the advantages of network sampling over traditional methods for conducting crime victimization surveys. Network sampling links population households in specified ways, for reporting purposes, in order to increase the probabilities of locating households with particular characteristics. We conducted a reverse record check field experiment to test whether a telephone survey using network sampling is feasible to collect crime victimization data. Three types of crimes-burglary, robbery, and assault-were tested along with two types of networks-relatives and co-workers/close friends. This paper examines the extent to which victims report their victimization experiences in a general crime and victimization interview and the extent to which a randomly selected relative or close friend will report the same victimization incident in an identical interview. A number of multiplicity counting rules are compared in terms of reporting errors and a mean square error analysis.

Designing Surveys: A Guide to Decisions and Procedures

A reverse record check study was conducted to measure the response effects in a network survey designed to locate a rare population subgroup. In this field experiment, diagnosed cancer patients and certain specified relatives were interviewed using a survey instrument based on the National Health Interview Survey questionnaire and a supplemental set of questions designed to identify persons with cancer. The measurement errors associated with obtaining reports on cancer diagnosis and the date of diagnosis are presented. In general, high rates of patient identification were found in both patient and relative households; in only 6% of the patient-relative pairs was the patient not reported. Females and Whites were more likely to be reported than males and non-Whites. A significant amount of variation and error in reporting date of diagnosis was found for both the patient and the relative households. Contrary to expectations, most households were likely to backward rather than to forward telescope the date of diagnosis. Suggestions on how to deal with error due to memory factors are proposed.