Implications of the growing use of wireless telephones for health care opinion polls.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of wireless telephone substitution in a survey of health care reform opinions. DATA SOURCE: Survey of New Jersey adults conducted by landline and wireless telephones from June 1 to July 9, 2007. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-one survey measures are compared by wireless status. Logistic regression is used to confirm landline-wireless gaps in support for coverage reforms, controlling for population differences. Weights adjust for selection probability, complex sample design, and demographic distributions. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Significant differences by wireless status were found in many survey measures. Wireless users were significantly more likely to favor coverage reforms. Higher support for government-sponsored universal coverage, income-related state coverage subsidies, and an individual mandate remain after adjustment for demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: Opinion polls excluding wireless users are likely to understate support for coverage reforms.

Author information

Author/s: Cantor, Joel C (JC); Brownlee, Susan (S); Zukin, Cliff (C); Boyle, John M (JM);

Affiliation: Center for State Health Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. jcantor(-atsign-)ifh.rutgers.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Health services research (Health Serv Res), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 44 (issue 5 Pt 1) : pp 1762-72

Dates: Created 2009/09/08; Completed 2009/09/29;

PMID: 19656229, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/29/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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