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. 1996 Nov;86(11):1626–1628. doi: 10.2105/ajph.86.11.1626

Assessing substance abuse treatment needs among the homeless: a telephone-based interactive voice response system.

S A Aiemagno 1, D Cochran 1, T E Feucht 1, R C Stephens 1, J M Butts 1, S A Wolfe 1
PMCID: PMC1380702  PMID: 8916533

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We report on a pilot project that used a telephone-based interactive voice response system accessed by cellular phones at diverse sites, to interview homeless persons on their need for alcohol and other drug treatment. METHODS: Using this technique we surveyed 207 homeless adults at eight shelters in Cleveland, Ohio. RESULTS: The cellular approach was comparable to human-administered interviews in reliability and validity and yielded higher self-reported levels of drug use. CONCLUSIONS: Cellular telephones and interactive voice response interviewing systems can be useful tools in assessing for the health-service needs of difficult-to-reach populations.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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