Introduction. Opinion surveys are a cornerstone of public health (PH) evaluation. They serve both as needs assessments for planning and feedback mechanisms about program impact. Their findings determine the level of interest in particular issues, revealing how the priorities of the target population differ from those of the PH community. Much attention is paid to how respondents rate and rank various issues. Of less interest are those respondents who fall into the "Don't Know" (DK) category. This presentation will explore the insights provided by the DK respondent. Analysis. An annual community telephone survey on maternal child health issues (36 questions including demographics) was conducted three times between 1998 and 2000 in two upstate New York counties. Respondents were asked to indicate the extent to which a specific MCH issue was a problem in their community (ranging from not at all to very severe, including don't know). Of the 2400 respondents, approximately 30% of the respondents fell into the DK group. Each survey item was evaluated across key demographic variables (sex, age, child bearing age, marital status, parent, parent of infant, education) to determine the DK respondents' profile. Results: The more specific the question (breastfeeding, infant death) the less similar the DK respondent profile was the other respondents' profile. Comparisons between the two communities revealed differences between their DK respondent profiles. PH Implications: The DK respondents provide substantive insights into PH program evaluation including survey item design. Between community differences reveal valuable distinctions useful for broader regional or state planning.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1 - to construct and evaluate profiles of "Don't Know" survey respondents 2 - identify three ways don't know respondent data can be useful in public health and program planning
Keywords: Survey, Community
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.