mHealth focus groups

mHealth Privacy and Security Consumer Research

MAXIMUS Federal Services

Focus Group Recruiting Script

IRB Study No. Pro00006539

Hello,

My name is ________________(first name) and I work in (CBO or MAXIMUS). Thank you for taking a few minutes to talk to me about a research project that we’re doing about health information and mobile devices.

Let me tell you briefly about this research project.

The federal Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is interested in learning more about peoples’ comfort level with using mobile devices, such as smart phones, cell phones, iPads and other handheld devices, to send or receive messages about health. They would like to know what, if any, concerns people have about using mobile devices for this purpose.

If you are eligible and interested you may be able to take part in a focus group. The focus group consists of a group of people like yourselves who will talk about your own experiences and some of the issues ONC wants us to explore. It will take approximately one and a half to two hours and we will offer you a prepaid $50 Visa card to thank you for your time at the end of the focus group.

First, to find out if you are eligible, I want to ask you a few short questions. May I begin?

No (thank them and exit)

Yes (thank them and proceed)

[Moderator Note: When you hear an answer that makes the candidate ineligible thank them and exit: “Thank you but you are not eligible for this particular research activity. Thank you for your time however and I hope you have a good day.]

1. What is your zip code? ___________________

(Moderator would have a list of eligible zip codes.)

2. Are you between the ages of

₁ 18-33

₂ 34-56

₃ 57-74

₄ If none of the above, not eligible

3. What is your sex?

₁ Male

₂ Female

4. Are you of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?

₁ Yes, of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin

₂ No, not of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin

5. What is your race?

₁ White

₂ Black or African American

₃ Asian

₄ Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

₅ American Indian or Alaskan Native

₆ Some other race, please specify ______________

₇ Two or more races, please specify ____________

6. Is English the primary language you use at home?

₁ Yes

₂ No

6.a. If ‘no’, what is the primary language you use at home _____________

[Some people will not answer the income question and therefore it will not be an eligibility question. We can use it ultimately as data self reported and use in final report.]

7. Which category best describes your yearly household income?

₁ Less than $5,000 per year

₂ $5,000 to less than $20,000 per year

₃ $20,000 to less than $35,000 per year

₄ $35,000 to less than $50,000 per year

₅ $50,000 to less than $75,000 per year

₆ $75,000 or more per year

₇ Do not know for certain

₈ Do not want to answer

8. What is the highest level of education you completed?

₁ No formal education (eligible for lower education focus group)

₂ Less than high school graduate (eligible for lower education focus group)

₃ High school graduate/GED (eligible for lower education focus group)

₄ Vocational training (eligible for lower education focus group)

₅ Some college/Associate’s degree (eligible for higher education focus group)

₆ College degree (BA/BS) (eligible for higher education focus group)

₇ Advanced degree (eligible for higher education focus group)

9. [if Spanish group] Are you a native Spanish speaker?

₁ Yes

₂ No (not eligible)

10. Do you own and use a cell phone?

₁ Yes

₂ No (not eligible if question 11 is also “no”))

10. Do you own and use a mobile device such as an iPad or tablet?

₁ Yes

₂ No (not eligible if question 10 is also “no”)

10. Does your cell phone or mobile device have texting capability?

₁ Yes

₂ No (not eligible)

10. How often do you send or receive text messages?

₁ Very often

₂ Often

₃ Sometimes

₄ Not very much

₅ Never

Check recruiting targets to determine whether this person is needed and for which group

Recruited individuals must have a cell phone or mobile device that has texting capability. The person doesn’t have to be a texter.

If the answer to:

# 1 is not eligible,

#2 is none of the above,

#9 is No (for the Spanish-speaking groups),

#10 and #11 is No (the individuals does not have either a cell phone or a mobile device), or

#12 is No (device does not have texting ability],

Recruiter should say “I’m sorry, you don’t meet the criteria that the researchers need for this particular study.”

If the person meets the criteria for one of the groups, continue

You meet the criteria to participate in a focus group. We would like to invite you to attend a focus group discussion with about 10 other people. The focus group will take place at [location]. Can you attend on….

 ________________ (DATE/TIME #1)

 ________________ (DATE/TIME #2)

 ________________ (DATE/TIME #3)

Thank you for agreeing to participate. We will be mailing you a letter and calling you two days before the focus group to remind you about the time and location. Could I (get/confirm) your name and mailing address?

NAME: ____________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________

______________________________________ ZIP:_______________

PHONE: (home)____________________________ (work)____________________

Thank you again for your time.

MAXIMUS Center for Health Literacy

Rev. 12/2011