Feasibility and acceptability of using an IVRS to assess decision making about sun protection

Abstract

Objective:We developed an interactive voice response system (IVRS), an automated telephone survey technology, to assess real-time decision making about sun protection. We examined the feasibility and acceptability of IVRS in this electronic health (eHealth) context. Methods: Melanoma patients who underwent surgery referred their first-degree relatives (FDRs) for participation. Eligible FDRs were contacted twice daily (12:30 PM; 5:00 PM) over 14 consecutive days via IVRS to complete a survey about their sun protection behaviors and decisions about those behaviors.Results: Of the 81 eligible FDRs, 69 (85%) consented to the study, and 53 (77%) completed the study. We assessed adherence with the IVRS via the number and pattern of missing survey items across all answered IVRS calls. About 80% of scheduled IVRS calls were answered (1316/1652). Most surveys (93%) of the IVRS-answered calls were completed. To examine acceptability, we analyzed the program satisfaction survey data collected at the end of the study. Most participants viewed the IVRS to be highly acceptable and easy to use.Conclusions: These findings illustrate that use of real-time IVRS data collection regarding sun protection decision making is feasible and acceptable to higher-risk research participants and could thus be used with time and location-sensitive eHealth support to enhance sun protection decision making.

Unpacking Habit With Bayesian Mixed Models: Dynamic Approach to Health Behaviors With Interchangeable Elements, Illustrated Through Multiple Sun Protection Behaviors

“…There were altogether 28 assessments per participant. There was minimal missing data (Holland et al, 2020). Additional details on recruitment and assessment procedures can be found elsewhere (Hay et al, 2017).…”

Telephone follow‐up based on artificial intelligence technology among hypertension patients: Reliability study

“…Voice interaction technology has attracted much attention in the fields of symptom monitoring and follow‐up intervention. Interactive voice response (IVR) has been used to collect monitoring information for a long time and proved efficient in many studies 13–16 . Compared with the studies designed to use keystrokes, the use of automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology makes it more efficient for the listener to answer 17–19 .…”

“…Interactive voice response (IVR) has been used to collect monitoring information for a long time and proved efficient in many studies. 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 Compared with the studies designed to use keystrokes, the use of automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology makes it more efficient for the listener to answer. 17 , 18 , 19 This is especially important for older adults, who make up the majority of chronic disease patients.…”

Special issue on eHealth innovations and psycho‐oncology

“…Healthy lifestyle promotion was the focus on a number of the papers in the Special Issue, including exercise in lung cancer survivors, weight management among breast cancer survivors, and sun protection and exposure in children with a family history of melanoma and among first‐degree relatives of melanoma patients . This latter study is noteworthy due to its use of an interactive voice response system to collect real‐time information about real‐world decision making and behaviors.…”