Using CATI for injury surveillance

Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) is a technique whereby traditional face-to-face or postal survey methods are replaced by surveys conducted over the telephone. Interview questions are stored in computer memory, recalled in programmable sequences, and displayed for the interviewer on a video display terminal. The computer memory, facilitating data collation and analysis. The CATI methodology has become an increasingly popular method of choice for many health surveys for reasons of cost, speed, flexibility and improved quality control. A project undertaken by NISU for the National CATI Technical Reference Group has looked at the ways in which CATI has been applied in Australia and suggested ways forward with applying the technique for injury surveillance. This article presents further information under the following headings: -Australian CATI health surveys -Risk factors for injury and the potential for CATI techniques -Current Australian risk factor research