The Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Neglected Methodology of Web-Based Questionnaires Among Chinese Health Workers: Web-Based Questionnaire Study

Heping Fang; Yuxin Lv; Lin Chen; Xuan Zhang; Yan Hu

doi:10.2196/41591

The Current Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of the Neglected Methodology of Web-Based Questionnaires Among Chinese Health Workers: Web-Based Questionnaire Study

J Med Internet Res. 2023 Jan 27:25:e41591. doi: 10.2196/41591.

Authors

Heping Fang¹, Yuxin Lv², Lin Chen², Xuan Zhang², Yan Hu²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
² Department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China.

PMID: 36533302
PMCID: PMC9919466
DOI: 10.2196/41591

Abstract

Background: Web-based questionnaire (WBQ) surveys are popular, but the quality of reporting WBQ survey research is uneven and unsatisfactory worldwide. Education and training on WBQ methodology may be necessary. However, the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of its methodology remain unknown.

Objective: We investigated the KAP of WBQ methodology among Chinese health workers for the first time to clarify the possible reasons for the unsatisfactory reporting quality of WBQ survey research from China's experience, aiming to provide a basis for improvement.

Methods: We developed a structured WBQ based on the current recommendations and knowledge and investigated 458 health workers from June 7 to July 6, 2022. A total of 381 valid questionnaires were analyzed after data processing. We defined 50% and 75% as "qualified" and "satisfactory" in knowledge and practice topics to describe the results and analyzed the basic characteristics of the participants who had difficulties in conducting WBQ survey research.

Results: A total of 215 (56.4%) participants had used WBQs for investigation, mostly more than 2 times (88.3%), but only 95 (44.2%) of them had ever received methodological training. A total of 134 (62.3%) users believed that WBQs were practical, but 126 (58.6%) had doubts about the reliability of the results. Most of the knowledge and practice topics did not reach a satisfactory level, and some even did not reach a qualified level. A total of 95 (44.2%)-136 (63.3%) of the users had reported difficulties in conducting WBQ survey research, and different participants could have different difficulties according to their characteristics. In addition, 191 (88.8%) users believed training was necessary.

Conclusions: We found that Chinese health workers seriously underestimated and neglected the importance of the WBQ methodology, which may be an important reason for the reduced reporting quality of WBQ survey research. Medical educators need to strengthen methodological training on WBQs, which may help to improve the quality of WBQ survey research.

Keywords: epidemiological survey; knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP); medical education; methodology; web-based questionnaire (WBQ).

©Heping Fang, Yuxin Lv, Lin Chen, Xuan Zhang, Yan Hu. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 27.01.2023.

MeSH terms

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Health Personnel*
Humans
Internet
Reproducibility of Results
Surveys and Questionnaires