(P4) Implementing remote data collection methods in a survey of sexual health in the British population (National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles; Natsal)

Background

The fourth decennial British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-4) was under development when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Planned data collection involved in-home interviews (average length 1 hour) with interviewer-administered and self-completion questions, self-collected biological samples, and data linkage consent. Pilot fieldwork was postponed due to the pandemic while alternative data collection methods were considered.

Methods

A risk/benefit review evaluated three data collection models:

1. Remote self-administration (eg postal invitation to complete a web/paper questionnaire)

2. Remote interviewer-administration (eg postal invitation to complete a telephone/video interview)

3. In-person interviewer-administration, with remote options (eg initial in-person contact with in-home or telephone/video interviews)

Each model was assessed against the survey design features (sample quality, time-series maintenance, boost samples of sub-populations, selection of one participant per household, interview length, self-completion questionnaire, biosampling, data linkage). Model 3 was developed and evaluated in two pilot studies (June-July 2021 and February-March 2022).

Results

Across the pilots, 30% (n=79/261) of interviews were conducted remotely (telephone (n=72); video (n=7)). Remote interviews included an online self-completion questionnaire, biosamples, and data linkage consent. Video interviewing was dropped following pilot 1 due to low uptake. Interviewers and participants were positive about the experience of administering / participating in remote interviews. Consent to biosamples, final biosample response rate (accounting for samples not received by the laboratory), and data linkage consent were all lower in remote interviews than in-home interviews (57% vs 64%; 34% vs 56%; and 61% vs 80%, respectively).

Conclusion

Mainstage Natsal-4 fieldwork retained a remote (telephone) option, but emphasised in-home interviewing as the preferred mode. Natsal has demonstrated it is feasible to adapt a complex interviewer administered survey to enable remote data collection, however substantial modifications were needed and response to biosampling and data linkage were lower in remote interviews.