Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Are online and face-to-face questionnaires equally valid and reliable methods of assessing preconception care?

  • Published:
Quality & Quantity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Face-to-face interviews using paper-based or online survey questionnaires are used interchangeably to allow the strengths of each method to complement each other. Preconception care is important for maternal and infant health. Thus, this study aims to assess the reliability and validity of a preconception care questionnaire using online and face-to-face interviews. Additionally, this study examines the preconception care status of Jordanian women of reproductive age. Online and face-to-face interview questionnaires were conducted with a random sample of Jordanian women of reproductive age (18–44 years) in a cross-sectional design between March 2022 and May 2022. A total of 1367 participants from the online questionnaire and 416 participants from the face-to-face interview questionnaire were included in this study. The preconception care questionnaire was found to be valid and reliable in both online (α = 0.874) and face-to-face (α = 0.722) interviews. Both methods showed a high prevalence of good knowledge and positive attitudes but poor practices among women between the ages of 18 and 29 years. Women aged 30–45 had poor knowledge and practices as well as negative attitudes. Married women had inadequate knowledge and practices as well as negative attitudes. While single women had good knowledge, they had negative attitudes. 

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmed, K., Saeed, A., Alawad, A.: Knowledge, attitude and practice of preconception care among Sudanese women in reproductive age about rheumatic heart disease. Int. J. Public Health. 3(5), 223–7 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Akour, N., Sou’Ub, R., Mohammad, K., Zayed, F.: Awareness of preconception care among women and men: a study from Jordan. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 35(3), 246–250 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Amer, R., Ramjan, L., Glew, P., Darwish, M., Salamonson, Y.: Translation of interviews from a source language to a target language: Examining issues in cross-cultural health care research. J. Clin. Nurs. 9–10, 1151–62 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alnuaimi, K., Almalik, M.: Sexual educational needs of Jordanian women after giving birth. Birth. 48(1), 52–60 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boakye-Yiadom, A.K., Sagru-Larr, E.S., Oduro, E., Asumadu Ok, S., Ja, Asare Ro: Preconception care: awareness, knowledge, attitude, and practice of pregnant women, tamale west hospital. Am. J. Health Med. Nurs. Pract. 5(1), 66–83 (2020). https://doi.org/10.47672/ajhmn.516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braekman, E., Demarest, S., Charafeddine, R., Drieskens, S., Berete, F., Gisle, L., Van der Heyden, J., Van Hal, G.: Unit response and costs in web versus face-to-face data collection: comparison of two cross-sectional health surveys. J. Med. Internet. Res. 24(1), e26299 (2022)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burkill, S., Copas, A., Couper, M.P., Clifton, S., Prah, P., Datta, J., Conrad, F., Wellings, K., Johnson, A.M., Erens, B.: Using the web to collect data on sensitive behaviors: a study looking at mode effects on the British National Survey of sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. PloS one. 11(2), e0147983 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callegaro, M., Manfreda, K.L., Vehovar, V.: Web Survey Methodology. Sage (2015)

  • Couper, M.P., Gremel, G., Axinn, W., Guyer, H., Wagner, J., West, B.T.: New options for national population surveys: the implications of internet and smartphone coverage. Soc. Sci. Res. 73, 221–235 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crusenberry, K.J.: An online study of undergraduates’ knowledge, awareness, and attitudes of preconception care

  • Dorney, E., Black, K.I.: Preconception care. Aust. J. Gen. Pract. 47(7), 424–429 (2018)

  • Dorney, E., Boyle, J.A., Walker, R., Hammarberg, K., Musgrave, L., Schoenaker, D., Jack, B., Black, K.I.: A Systematic Review of Clinical Guidelines for Preconception Care. InSeminars in Reproductive Medicine 2022 May 16.Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

  • Dunlop, A.L., Logue, K.M., Thorne, C., Badal, H.J.: Change in women’s knowledge of general and personal preconception health risks following targeted brief counseling in publicly funded primary care settings. Am. J. Health Promotion. 27(3suppl), S50–S57 (2013)

  • El-Dirani, Z., Akik, C., Attel, L., Kamhawi, R., Nawafleh, M., Essaid, A., DeJong, J.: Interactive community-based theatre to address social barriers to accessing reproductive health services in patriarchal societies: the case of Jordan. Culture, Health & Sexuality , 1–6 (2022)

  • Ebert, J.F., Huibers, L., Christensen, B., Christensen, M.B.: Paper- or web-based questionnaire invitations as a method for data collection: a cross-sectional comparative study of differences in response rate, completeness of data, and financial cost. J. Med. Internet Res. 20(1), e24 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gausman, J., Othman, A., Al-Qotob, R., Shaheen, A., Abu Sabbah, E., Aldiqs, M., Hamad, I., Dabobe, M., Langer, A.: Health care professionals’ attitudes towards youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in Jordan: a cross-sectional study of physicians, midwives and nurses. Reproductive Health. 1, 1–2 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Giri, K., Gautam, S.: Knowledge on preconception care among reproductive-aged women in Kaski District, Nepal. Janapriya J. Interdisciplinary Stud. 7(1), 46–56 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M., Lewis, S., Parrott, S., Wormall, S., Coleman, T.: Re-starting smoking in the postpartum period after receiving a smoking cessation intervention: a systematic review. Addiction. 111(6), 981–90 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, H., Cella, D., Gershon, R., Shen, J., Morales, L.S., Riley, W., Hays, R.D.: Representativeness of the patient-reported outcomes measurement information system internet panel. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 63(11), 1169–1178 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, M.: ; 60: 11–16. Pergamon. (2017)

  • Liu, M., Conrad, F.G., Lee, S.: Comparing acquiescent and extreme response styles in face-to-face and web surveys. Qual. Quant. 51(2), 941–958 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, E., Chandra-Mouli, V., Baltag, V., Christiansen, C., Lassi, Z.S., Bhutta, Z.A.: Preconception care: advancing from ‘important to do and can be done’to ‘is being done and is making a difference.’ Reprod. Health 11(3), 1–9 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauz, E., von der Lippe, E., Allen, J., Schilling, R., Müters, S., Hoebel, J., Schmich, P., Wetzstein, M., Kamtsiuris, P., Lange, C.: Mixing modes in a population-based interview survey: comparison of a sequential and a concurrent mixed-mode design for public health research. Archives of Public Health. 76(1), 1–7 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mousa, O., Alfadhel, R.A., Almubarak, H.A., et al.: Assessing the level of awareness and utilization of Preconception Care among Saudi Women in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Nur Prim. Care. 5(6), 1–6 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulhern, B., Longworth, L., Brazier, J., Rowen, D., Bansback, N., Devlin, N., Tsuchiya, A.: Binary choice health state valuation and mode of administration: a head-to-head comparison of online and CAPI. Value in Health. 16(1), 104–113 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nayak, M.S., Narayan, K.A.: Strengths and weaknesses of online surveys. Technology. 6(7), 0837–2405053138 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nepali, G., Sapkota, S.D.: Knowledge and practice regarding preconception care among antenatal mothers. Int. J. Perceptions Public Health. 1(4), 224–227 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble, H., Smith, J.: Issues of validity and reliability in qualitative research. Evid. Based Nurs. 18(2), 34–35 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olowokere, A.E., Komolafe, A., Owofadeju, C.: Awareness, knowledge and uptake of preconception care among women in Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. J. Community Med. Prim. Health Care. 27(2), 83–92 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  • Othman, A., Shaheen, A., Otoum, M., Aldiqs, M., Hamad, I., Dabobe, M., Langer, A., Gausman, J.: Parent–child communication about sexual and reproductive health: perspectives of Jordanian and Syrian parents. Sex. Reprod. Health Matters 28(1), 1758444 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saloniki, E.C., Malley, J., Burge, P., Lu, H., Batchelder, L., Linnosmaa, I., Trukeschitz, B., Forder, J.: Comparing internet and face-to-face surveys as methods for eliciting preferences for social care-related quality of life: evidence from England using the ASCOT service user measure. Qual. Life Res. 28(8), 2207–2220 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shih, T.H., Fan, X.: Comparing response rates from web and mail surveys: a meta-analysis. Field methods. 20(3), 249–271 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson, J., Patel, D., Barrett, G., Howden, B., Copas, A., Ojukwu, O., Pandya, P., Shawe, J.: How do women prepare for pregnancy? Preconception experiences of women attending antenatal services and views of health professionals. PloS one. 9(7), e103085 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0103085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sterrett, D., Malato, D., Benz, J., Tompson, T., English, N.: Assessing changes in coverage bias of web surveys in the United States. Pub. Opin. Q. 81(S1), 338–356 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szolnoki, G., Hoffmann, D.: Online, face-to-face, and telephone surveys—comparing different sampling methods in wine consumer research. Wine Econ. Policy. 2(2), 57–66 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yohannes, Z., Tenaw, Z., Astatkie, A., Siyoum, M., Bekele, G., Taye, K., Mekonnen, S., Kassaye, Z.: Levels and correlates of knowledge and attitude on preconception care at public hospitals in Wolayita Zone South Ethiopia. BioRxiv. 1, 586636 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1101/586636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yohannes, Z., et al.: Levels and correlates of knowledge and attitude on preconception care at public hospitals in Wolayita Zone South Ethiopia. BioRxiv. 1, 586636 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank The Hashemite University for their assistance. The researchers want to thank women who took part in the study.

Funding

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Jerash University, Jerash, Jordan

    Lana M. Agraib

  2. Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan

    Buthaina Alkhatib, Huda Al Hourani & Islam Al-Shami

Authors
  1. Lana M. Agraib
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Buthaina Alkhatib
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Huda Al Hourani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Islam Al-Shami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Buthaina Alkhatib and Lana M. Agraib data acquisition, statistical analysis, and interpreted the results. Buthaina Alkhatib, Huda Al Hourani, Islam Al-Shami, and Lana M. Agraib involved in the concept and design of the study, inducted and drafted the manuscript, and reviewed and provided inputs on the manuscript. All authors critically revised the manuscript, approved the final version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Buthaina Alkhatib.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

the study was approved by the research ethics committee (REC) of Hashemite University (No.21/6/2021/2022).

Consent to participate

All participants were informed about the study objectives at the beginning of the questionnaire, then they expressed their informed consent to participate, and their data were anonymous.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Agraib, L.M., Alkhatib, B., Al Hourani, H. et al. Are online and face-to-face questionnaires equally valid and reliable methods of assessing preconception care?. Qual Quant 57, 5563–5576 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-023-01614-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-023-01614-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation