Applying an expanded set of cognitive design principles to formatting the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) longitudinal survey.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
The National Kidney Foundation Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) is a free community-based health-screening program targeting populations at greatest risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), those with high rates of diabetes and hypertension, and a high proportion of racial/ethnic minorities. The KEEP Longitudinal Survey will adopt methods similar to those used in KEEP to gather follow-up data to measure CKD-related heath status and gauge program effectiveness for repeated KEEP participants with evidence of CKD stages 3 to 5. KEEP has defined objectives to enhance follow-up survey response rates and target vulnerable populations who bear the greatest CKD risk-factor burdens.

METHODS:
The KEEP Follow-up Form was assessed for adherence to 6 cognitive design principles (simplicity, consistency, organization, natural order, clarity, and attractiveness) considered to summate the techniques guiding good survey development and for the additional cognitive design principles of readability and variation of readability across survey items.

RESULTS:
The KEEP Follow-up Form was found to include violations of each cognitive design principle and readability principle, possibly contributing to item nonresponse and low follow-up rates in KEEP. It was revised according to empirically substantiated formatting techniques guided by these principles and found during qualitative assessment to be more user friendly, simpler, better organized, more attractive, and easier to read. Subsequent development of the KEEP Longitudinal Survey form also was guided by these principles.

CONCLUSION:
To ensure ease of use by populations with limited literacy skills, poor health literacy, and limited survey literacy, survey researchers must apply cognitive design principles to survey development to improve participation and response rates.

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Author information

Author/s: Calderón, José Luis (JL); Fleming, Erik (E); Gannon, Monica R (MR); Chen, Shu-Cheng (SC); Vassalotti, Joseph A (JA); Norris, Keith C (KC);

Affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Health Professions Division, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796, USA. drcalderon(-atsign-)sbcglobal.net

Grants: 1R24-HS014022-01A1 (Agency:United States AHRQ) ; MD00148 (Agency:United States NCMHD) ; P30AG21684 (Agency:United States NIA) ; RR011145 (Agency:United States NCRR) ; RR014616 (Agency:United States NCRR) ; RR019234 (Agency:United States NCRR) ; RR03026 (Agency:United States NCRR)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation (Am J Kidney Dis), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 51 (issue 4 Suppl 2) : pp S83-92

Dates: Created 2008/03/24; Completed 2008/05/14;

PMID: 18359412, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Chronic Disease
Cognitive Science - methods; standards
Community Health Services - methods; standards
Data Collection - methods; standards
Early Diagnosis
Follow-Up Studies
Foundations - standards

Foundations - standards
Humans
Kidney Diseases - diagnosis; epidemiology
Longitudinal Studies
Mass Screening - methods; standards
Program Evaluation - methods; standards
United States - epidemiology

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