Open AccessImplementing the PHMRC shortened questionnaire: Survey duration of open and closed questions in three sites
Author(s) -
Abraham D. Flaxman,
Andrea Stewart,
Jonathan Joseph,
Nurul Alam,
Saidul Alam,
Hafizur Rahman Chowdhury,
Saman Gamage,
Hebe Gouda,
Rohina Joshi,
Marilla Lucero,
Meghan Mooney,
Devarsetty Praveen,
Rasika Rampatige,
Hazel Remolador,
Diozele Sanvictores,
Peter Serina,
Peter Kim Streatfield,
Veronica Tallo,
Nandalal Wijesekera,
Christopher J L Murray,
Bernardo Hernández,
Alan D. López,
Ian Riley
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0178085
Subject(s) - survey research , duration (music) , questionnaire , medicine , psychology , statistics , applied psychology , mathematics , physics , acoustics
Background More countries are using verbal autopsy as a part of routine mortality surveillance. The length of time required to complete a verbal autopsy interview is a key logistical consideration for planning large-scale surveillance. Methods We use the PHMRC shortened questionnaire to conduct verbal autopsy interviews at three sites and collect data on the length of time required to complete the interview. This instrument uses a novel checklist of keywords to capture relevant information from the open response. The open response section is timed separately from the section consisting of closed questions. Results We found the median time to complete the entire interview was approximately 25 minutes and did not vary substantially by age-specific module. The median time for the open response section was approximately 4 minutes and 60% of interviewees mentioned at least one keyword within the open response section. Conclusions The length of time required to complete the interview was short enough for large-scale routine use. The open-response section did not add a substantial amount of time and provided useful information which can be used to increase the accuracy of the predictions of the cause of death. The novel checklist approach further reduces the burden of transcribing and translating a large amount of free text. This makes the PHMRC instrument ideal for national mortality surveillance.