A brief telephone interview to identify lesbian and bisexual women in random digit dialing sampling

J Sex Res. 2002 May;39(2):139-44. doi: 10.1080/00224490209552133.

Abstract

Lesbian health research has most often relied on nonprobability samples that are biased and restrict generalizability. Random sampling could reduce bias, but requires development of a method for fast and reliable screening of a large number of women. We tested the feasibility of using a brief telephone interview to assess sexual attraction, behavior, and identity. Using Random Digit Dialing in a neighborhood of Boston with a high density of lesbian residents, we interviewed 202 women aged 18 to 59. Of the respondents, 33% reported some sexual attraction to other women, 20% reported sex with women since age 18, and 14% identified as a lesbian. The high level of cooperation with the study among eligible women (94%) and the high proportion of women who disclosed homosexual attraction, behavior, or identity show that it is feasible to use a brief screening questionnaire about sexuality of women over the telephone even without building special rapport with the respondents.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bisexuality / psychology
  • Bisexuality / statistics & numerical data*
  • Boston / epidemiology
  • Community Networks / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Status
  • Heterosexuality / psychology
  • Heterosexuality / statistics & numerical data
  • Homosexuality, Female / psychology
  • Homosexuality, Female / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic / methods*
  • Patient Selection
  • Random Allocation
  • Research Design / standards*
  • Social Identification
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards