Comparison of Norovirus Survey Methods, Oregon | CDC EID

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Volume 16, Number 11–November 2010
Dispatch
Comparison of Survey Methods in Norovirus Outbreak Investigation, Oregon, USA, 2009

John Y. Oh, Comments to Author June E. Bancroft, Margaret C. Cunningham, William E. Keene, Sheryl B. Lyss, Paul R. Cieslak, and Katrina Hedberg
Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (J.Y. Oh, S.B. Lyss); and Oregon Public Health Division, Portland, Oregon, USA (J.Y. Oh, J.E. Bancroft, M.C. Cunningham, W.E. Keene, P.R. Cieslak, K. Hedberg)

Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
We compared data from an Internet-based survey and a telephone-based survey during a 2009 norovirus outbreak in Oregon. Survey initiation, timeliness of response, and attack rates were comparable, but participants were less likely to complete Internet questions. Internet-based surveys permit efficient data collection but should be designed to maximize complete responses.

Internet-based questionnaires are increasingly used during investigations of outbreaks; however, compared with telephone interviews, a differential response rate on the basis of exposures or outcomes might bias results (1–6). On September 24, 2009, the Oregon Public Health Division was notified of an outbreak of gastroenteritis that occurred among participants of a 475-mile bicycle ride during September 13–19, 2009. Five of 6 riders who independently reported illness to the event organizer and provided stool specimens were positive for norovirus (GII) infection. In responding to the outbreak, we administered a questionnaire using Internet- and telephone-based methods to directly compare data with regard to response rates, attack rates, and risk factors for illness.

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Comparison of Norovirus Survey Methods, Oregon | CDC EID

Suggested Citation for this Article

Oh JY, Bancroft JE, Cunningham MC, Keene WE, Lyss SB, Cieslak PR, et al. Comparison of survey methods in norovirus outbreak investigation, Oregon, USA, 2009. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2010 Nov [date cited].
http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/16/11/1773.htm

DOI: 10.3201/eid1611.100561