Shareware Overload Trio 2/Shareware Overload Trio Volume 2 (Chestnut CD-ROM).ISO/dir26/epi601_2.zip/FILES07.EXE/QUES.EPA

Text File | 1994-08-22 | 16KB | 357 lines

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     In an epidemiologic investigation, the information you
     hope to obtain from a questionnaire usually includes:

           Identifying Information
           Potential Confounders and Effect Modifiers
             (Factors affecting illness other than the ones
              under study. Age and sex are common ones.)
           Exposure
           Illness

It is helpful to write or type a list of variables you would like
to obtain, and work backward from this list to develop questions.
A final variable, like ILL or NOT ILL, may summarize the results
of many questions, but it is useful to know what variables are
important before beginning to write questions.
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An Epi Info questionnaire may have up to 500 lines. Headings and
other text may appear anywhere. Places where you will enter data
are called "Fields" or "Variables."

To see the types of fields, look at the back cover of the Epi Info
manual, or, in EPED, hold down the control key and press "Q" twice
(<Ctrl-Q Q>).  The menu that appears can be used to insert a "field"
in your questionnaire.  The field type chosen is inserted at the
cursor in your text.  You may use this convenient method or simply
type the symbols found on the back of the Epi Info Manual if you prefer.
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[Now press <Ctrl-Q Q> to see the menu, and then <Esc> when done]
_Wordwrap off
_SingleLines
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To begin making your questionnaire, press <Esc> and then type the
heading for the questionnaire.  This may be several lines and
might include:
                Title or Subject of Questionnaire
                             Agency
                             Address
as in:
      Illness During The Month Of April in Toledo, Georgia
                 Costa County Health Department
                        414 First Street
                        Toledo, GA  30061

After typing a line, pressing <Ctrl-O> and then C will center the line.
                (That's <Ctrl-O>, not Ctrl-zero.)
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[Now type the heading, and press <Esc> when done]
[Go back to each line and center it with <Ctrl-O C> if necessary]

                        BACKGROUND INFORMATION
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Most questionnaires begin with information for the respondent on the
purpose of the investigation, the reasons for responding, how
confidentiality will be preserved, etc.  This may be designed to
be read aloud by an interviewer or directly by the subject.  You will
need to edit the sample questionnaire that we supply according to its
intended audience.  We have designed this one to be used in telephone
or other interviews by an investigator or interviewer.

The background material is pure text, and is only included in the
computerized questionnaire if you intend to use a printed copy of
the same form in the field. To print a copy for field work, use the
<F5>-PRINT command in the ENTER program, since it removes the special
characters used to indicate field types.
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[Reasons for investigation, informed consent, etc. if desired, then <Esc>]

                        IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
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Identifying information usually includes such items as:

A Questionnaire Identification Number ###
Last Name ____________ First Name ____________
Street/Apt.  _______________________________________
City ___________________ State <A > Zip #####  (or #####-####)
Telephone <phonenum>        Date of interview <mm/dd/yy>

You may choose not to put all these items in the computer for two
reasons:   1) Confidentiality 2) There is little tabulation that can
be done with items like phone numbers and addresses
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_Mark
[Would you like a preformed identification section? (Y/N, then <Esc>)]
_Remove
_If (Entry = "N") or (Entry = "n") then jump NoPreformed
:Preformed

Id. Number ####
Date of Interview <mm/dd/yy>
Last name <A           >   First name & initial <A            >
Street Address _________________________
               _________________________
City or town   _______________ State <A > ZIP #####
Telephone  {Home}   <Long distance>   Work <Long distance>

Person supplying {info}rmation (if not named above) __________________
[Please edit this section to suit your needs, then press <Esc>]
_Jump IDDone
:NoPreformed
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You will be typing your own questions on the screen and then adding
one of the "entry field" (variable) indicators shown on the back
cover of the Epi Info manual.  You can type in the entry-field
indicator or use the command <Ctrl-Q Q> to pull down the menu
of entry fields and choose one.  The field type chosen will be
added to your question on the screen in the proper format.
   An example would be:
       First Name (Either type a dozen underline characters here
          or press <Ctrl-Q Q> and choose the first or second item.)
       The result should be: 
First Name  ____________

       or                    First Name <A           >
       The second will convert all entries to upper case automatically.
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[Please enter IDENTIFIER questions and fields. <Ctrl-Q Q> for fields.]
:IDDone
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The next section of the questionnaire usually contains CONFOUNDERS,
or EFFECT MODIFIERS like age, sex, race, occupation (sometimes
really an EXPOSURE), past medical history, etc.  Any item that affects
illness other than the ones under study is a good candidate for this
section.

Try to think of all the factors that might affect rates of the disease
in question other than the ones you are interested in studying. There
is sometimes only a hazy line separating Confounders, Effect modifiers,
and Exposure variables. You should not worry much about the difference
now, but try to include all such factors in either this or the EXPOSURE
section of the questionnaire.
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                          GENERAL INFORMATION
_Mark
[Would you like preformed questions for an enteric outbreak? (Y/N, <Esc>)]
_Remove
_If (Entry = "N") or (Entry = "n") then jump NoConf

Age ### years or (if under age 2) age in {months} ##
Sex <A> (M/F)

  Please give details _________________________________________
[Now edit the questions using the arrow and other keys, then <Esc>]
_Jump ConfDone
:NoConf
[Enter your questions and fields for Age, Sex, Race, etc., then <Esc>]
:ConfDone
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EXPOSURE is information on the factors that potentially "cause"
the condition ("DISEASE")  being studied.  These are the "risk factors"
under study, among which you hope to find the "causes" or partial
causes of the DISEASE (or injury).

Risk factors vary widely, depending on the type of study.
You may choose to create your own questions here. A set of preformed
questions is provided for food or beverage-borne epidemics.
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            EXPOSURE TO FACTORS WHICH MAY INFLUENCE HEALTH
_Mark
[Would you like sample questions for foods & beverages? (Y/N then <Esc>)]
_Remove
_If (Entry = "N") or (Entry = "n") then jump NoFoods

When did you eat the following meals:
     Breakfast (date and day of week)      _____________________
     Lunch     (date and day of week)      _____________________
     Supper    (date and day of week)      _____________________
     Snack or other food (date and day of week) ___________________

For the meal eaten at (restaurant name), which of the following items
  did you eat or drink?
(Or) If you ate (meal) at (restaurant name) on (date and day of week),
      which of the following items did you eat or drink?
(Or) Which of the following items did you eat (purchase) from
      (store name) between (date) and (date)?

        a. (Food item name)                     <Y>  Y  N  Not Sure
        b. (Food item name)                     <Y>  Y  N  Not Sure
        c.     (etc.)                           <Y>  Y  N  Not Sure
        d.                                      <Y>  Y  N  Not Sure
        e.                                      <Y>  Y  N  Not Sure
        f.                                      <Y>  Y  N  Not Sure
        g.                                      <Y>  Y  N  Not Sure
        h.                                      <Y>  Y  N  Not Sure
        i.                                      <Y>  Y  N  Not Sure
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Please choose the questions that apply and delete the others.  This will
depend on the stage of the investigation and whether you are trying to
explore associations with a meal, a food, a food source, etc.

Areas to be edited or filled in are in parentheses.  For foodborne
outbreaks be sure to include a variety of foods, even if they are not
suspected.  Include all those that are likely alternatives for the
suspected food(s).  Thus, if you suspect ham, be sure to include all
other available meats in your list as well. If at all possible, try to
obtain a complete menu for the event and check with others to see that
it includes everything served.
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[Please edit this section for your own food/beverage list.]
[Please add any other exposure questions that seem worthwhile]
_Jump FoodsDone
:NoFoods
[Please enter your own questions on EXPOSURE]
:FoodsDone
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DISEASE or INJURY is any condition under study, from Anxiety to
Bad Back to Zinc Deficiency.  Usually questions are designed to
see if an individual matches a case definition.

A complete case definition describes:
                1) Symptoms, signs, or laboratory results
                2) A time period during which these must
                       have occurred (or begun)
                3) The geographic limits of the study
                     (Usually ascertained as EXPOSURE above.)
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A case definition for Gastroenteritis in Oswego, for example, might be:

            A Case of Gastroenteritis in Oswego is:
        A person who attended the xxx church supper on
        April 18, who had vomiting and/or one or more
        episodes of unformed stool (diarrhea) during the
        succeeding four days.

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     Preformed questions for enteric disease are available.
    For other illnesses, please formulate your own questions.
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                  HEALTH OR ILLNESS INFORMATION
_Mark
[Would you like preformed questions for enteric disease? (Y/N then <Esc>)]
_Remove
_If (Entry = "N") or (Entry = "n") then jump NoEnteric

Between (date) and (date), which of the following symptoms did you have?
                      Circle One Choice For Each:
           {Diarrhea}                          Y  N  Not Sure     <Y>
              Maximum {number} of loose or watery
               stools in a 24-hour period ##
           {Nausea}                            Y  N  Not Sure     <Y>
           {Vomiting}                          Y  N  Not Sure     <Y>
           {Blood}y stools                     Y  N  Not Sure     <Y>
           Abdominal {Cramps}                  Y  N  Not Sure     <Y>
           {Aching} of muscles or joints       Y  N  Not Sure     <Y>
           {Sore throat}                       Y  N  Not Sure     <Y>
           {Headache}                          Y  N  Not Sure     <Y>
           {Fever}                             Y  N  Not Sure     <Y>
             If yes, please give highest temperature measured  _______ F.
Which symptom occurred first? _____________
When did it first occur?
    Time ##:## AM or PM? <A > Date <mm/dd/yy>
Did you see a physician for any of these symptoms? <Y> (Y/N)
Was a stool culture or rectal swab taken for culture? <Y> (Y/N)
Were you hospitalized overnight or longer for any of these symptoms? <Y> (Y/N)
Were you given an antibiotic for these symptoms? <Y> (Y/N)
  If so please specify which one _____________________
In the past year, have you had any other medical problem? <Y> (Y/N)
    Please describe briefly _________________________________________
Have you taken any medications in the past month? <Y> (Y/N)

[Now edit the questions for your own study conditions]
_Jump DoneEnteric
:NoEnteric
[Please enter questions for your own case definition]
:DoneEnteric
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                        OTHER INFORMATION
It may be important to explore household transmission, outcome
of the disease, cost of medical care, time off from work, or other
features of interest.  Sample questions are provided to assist in
searching for further cases; you may wish to compose your own
questions on other topics.
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                        OTHER INFORMATION
_Mark
[Would you like questions for case finding? (Y/N then <Esc>)]
_Remove
_If (Entry = "N") or (Entry = "n") then jump NoOther

Have any friends, family members or other associates had symptoms
similar to those mentioned above during the past (time interval)? <Y> (Y/N)
If yes, please give their names, the type of illness, and phone number or
other information that might be helpful in contacting them for an interview.
 __________________________________________________________________
 __________________________________________________________________
[Please edit for use in this investigation]
_Jump DoneOther
:NoOther
[Please enter questions and fields for OTHER INFORMATION]
:DoneOther
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The final section of the questionnaire should thank the subject
and provide a name and contact method in case further information
becomes available or the subject has questions.  We will provide
a skeletal THANK YOU section.
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                 Thank you for your assistance.
If you have further questions or can provide more information about
                   this problem, please call:
                 Name                      Title
                 Address
                 Telephone number

[Please edit this section appropriately]
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It is very important to have a summary of the status of each
record as CASE or CONTROL.  If you summarize the symptom information
as a single Y/N answer, it may save a lot of programming later on.
One way to do this is shown in the next and final section.  You may
also want to include a section for followup ("housekeeping" information).
This is usually not entered into the computerized record, but is useful
for keeping track of how many phone contacts were attempted, letters
mailed, etc.

The following section will create a variable called CASE.  A person
with "Y" in this field is a case; one with "N" would be a possible
CONTROL.
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************This Section For Investigator's Use Only **************

   Does the illness information meet the {case} definition? <Y>

   Followup information ....................................
                        ....................................
[Please edit this section appropriately]
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Epi Info questionnaires must have a name ending in ".QES" to
distinguish them from other types of files.  At the next prompt
please give your questionnaire a name that is different from
those of existing files.  The name must begin with a letter of
the alphabet, and consist of up to 8 letters or numbers without
punctuation or spaces, followed by ".QES".  Several examples
follow.
               Outbreak.qes         TANKCAR.QES
               Gastro1.qes          JOSEPH.QES
                         Ottowa.qes
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[To SAVE the file, press <F9>, then give filename.QES, <Enter> and <Esc>]
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The questionnaire is now complete.  If you desire, please use
the PgUp, PgDn, and arrow keys to review and edit until it
matches your needs.  Finally, press <F9> to save as we did
above, and then <Esc> to leave EPIAID.  Pressing <F10> will
return you to the Epi Info menu.  Once at the menu, choose
the ENTER program to make a data file from your completed
questionnaire and begin entering data.
_Enddisplay
[Review and edit; <F9> to Save; then <Esc> for Epi Info Menu.]