New non-randomised model to assess the prevalence of discriminating behaviour: a pilot study on mephedrone.
New non-randomised model to assess the prevalence of discriminating behaviour: a pilot study on mephedrone.
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DOI：
10.1186/1747-597x-6-20
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发表时间：
2011-08-03
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Naughton DP
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Petróczi A;Nepusz T;Cross P;Taft H;Shah S;Deshmukh N;Schaffer J;Shane M;Adesanwo C;Barker J;Naughton DP
调查敏感问题的随机反应和非随机模型的一个优势来自于这样一个特点，即关于歧视行为的个人答案不能与个人联系起来。本研究提出一个新的模糊反应模式“单一样本计数”（SSC），以估计流行病学研究中歧视或尴尬行为的盛行率。对SSC进行了检测，并与估计甲羟孕酮使用的已建立强迫反应（FR）模型进行了比较。估计从SSC和FR，然后证实定性的头发筛选数据。志愿者（n = 318，平均年龄= 22.69 ± 5.87，59.1%男性）在威尔士北部的农村地区和英格兰的大都市地区完成了一份问卷，其中包含SSC和FR交替顺序，和四个问题，拉票的意见和信念，关于MPERANE。使用定性液相色谱-质谱法对头发样品进行了甲羟孕酮筛查。SSC算法利用已知的总体分布对现有的项目计数技术进行了改进，并将敏感问题嵌入到四个不相关的无害问题中，并具有二项分布。受访者只被要求指出有多少，而不透露哪些是真的。两种概率模型得出的估计值相似，FR在2.6% - 15.0%之间;而新的SSC在0% -10%之间。6份阳性头发样本表明样本中的患病率至少为4%。这些估计的接近提供了证据，以支持新的SSC模型的有效性。使用模拟，计算推荐的样本量作为统计功效和预期患病率的函数。与其他间接方法相比，SSC的主要优点是：管理、完成和计算简单，最大限度地利用数据，对所有受访者具有良好的表面效度。由于受访者不需要直接回答敏感问题的关键特征，加上没有强迫回答或明显的自我保护应对策略，SSC具有比其他估计模型更有效地跨越自我保护障碍的潜力。这种优雅简单，快速有效的方法可以成功地用于调查妥协行为的公共卫生研究。
An advantage of randomised response and non-randomised models investigating sensitive issues arises from the characteristic that individual answers about discriminating behaviour cannot be linked to the individuals. This study proposed a new fuzzy response model coined 'Single Sample Count' (SSC) to estimate prevalence of discriminating or embarrassing behaviour in epidemiologic studies. The SSC was tested and compared to the established Forced Response (FR) model estimating Mephedrone use. Estimations from both SSC and FR were then corroborated with qualitative hair screening data. Volunteers (n = 318, mean age = 22.69 ± 5.87, 59.1% male) in a rural area in north Wales and a metropolitan area in England completed a questionnaire containing the SSC and FR in alternating order, and four questions canvassing opinions and beliefs regarding Mephedrone. Hair samples were screened for Mephedrone using a qualitative Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry method. The SSC algorithm improves upon the existing item count techniques by utilizing known population distributions and embeds the sensitive question among four unrelated innocuous questions with binomial distribution. Respondents are only asked to indicate how many without revealing which ones are true. The two probability models yielded similar estimates with the FR being between 2.6% - 15.0%; whereas the new SSC ranged between 0% - 10%. The six positive hair samples indicated that the prevalence rate in the sample was at least 4%. The close proximity of these estimates provides evidence to support the validity of the new SSC model. Using simulations, the recommended sample sizes as the function of the statistical power and expected prevalence rate were calculated. The main advantages of the SSC over other indirect methods are: simple administration, completion and calculation, maximum use of the data and good face validity for all respondents. Owing to the key feature that respondents are not required to answer the sensitive question directly, coupled with the absence of forced response or obvious self-protective response strategy, the SSC has the potential to cut across self-protective barriers more effectively than other estimation models. This elegantly simple, quick and effective method can be successfully employed in public health research investigating compromising behaviours.