Self-reports are a primary source of behavioral data. Studies by this group and others have highlighted the variable validity and reliability of self-report measures of health behaviors such as adherence with therapy. Research on self-reports of sensitive information, such as sexual behavior and drug use, suggests that mode of data collection may enhance validity of self-reports. However, no studies have determined how mode of data collection influences self-reports when an objective measure of the behavior is available. The goal of this study is to examine how assessment mode influences the validity of self-reported adherence with asthma therapy. Self-reported adherence with asthma therapy will be collected using one of three randomized assessment modes: interview, computer or telephone. Adult patients will be enrolled in a 6-month asthma education study where their inhaled medications are electronically monitored to provide an objective adherence measure. A total of 216 adults will be randomized to these three treatments. The investigators hypothesize that self-reports will have the highest validity under conditions of lowest personalization. They will also examine how interview mode influences self-reports of other behavioral and clinical outcome measures including asthma symptoms, asthma management and quality of life. Results from this study will demonstrate how data collection methods influence self-report of adherence with therapy and serve to identify optimal self-report strategies in behavioral and clinical research settings.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL064200-04
Application #
6774789
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-2 (02))
Program Officer
Taggart, Virginia
Project Start
2001-06-04
Project End
2007-05-31
Budget Start
2004-09-30
Budget End
2007-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$417,133
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Le, Tao T; Bilderback, Andrew; Bender, Bruce et al. (2008) Do asthma medication beliefs mediate the relationship between minority status and adherence to therapy? J Asthma 45:33-7