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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2018 Feb 6.
Published in final edited form as: Prog Community Health Partnersh. 2009 Summer;3(2):179–190. doi: 10.1353/cpr.0.0065

Table 1. Names and Definitions of Dependent Variables and Journal Questions From Which These Are Derived.

Description Individual Variables From Which the Variable Was Derived No. of Individual Variables From Which Summary Variable Was Derived
Sequence Error A sequence error occurred if a participant recorded an outcome variable before she or he sat outside for 10 minutes. If the time at which a participant indicated having sat outside was 5 or more minutes later than either the time at which she or he had taken their blood pressure, as indicated by time stamped blood pressure readings or the time that the participant recorded having collected a saliva sample, then we defined the record as having a sequence error. Participant's recording of the time at which she or he returned from spending 10 minutes outdoors. If protocol was followed correctly, then this should have been the first data collection step because it ensured participants' exposure to the outdoor air. The times at which participants collected each blood pressure reading. These times appeared on print-outs from the blood pressure machine.
The time at which the participant collected their saliva sample, which the participant recorded in their journal.
Yes/No Variable The yes/no variable was based on the completeness of variables for which the participant wrote long-hand, descriptive answers if their answer to a question was in the affirmative. Otherwise, the participant indicated the negative by either circling or checking the word no or none.
A yes/no variable was defined as missing when the participant did not check the option “none” and did not write an affirmative statement.
Participant's indication of whether she or he changed their daily activities due to the hog odor over the past 12 hours. Participants either described the ways that they had changed their activities due to odor or circled the word “none” if they did not change their activities.
Participant's indication of whether she/he experienced irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, or skin while she/he sat outside for 10 minutes. Participants either checked a box beside all applicable types of irritation that they experienced or checked a box beside “none” if they did not experience irritation.
Participant's indication of whether she or he took any medications, other than those that they usually take, in the previous 12 hours. Participants either wrote in the medications that they took or circled the word “none” if they had not taken any medications.
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Ordered Response Variable The ordered response variable was based on the completeness of variables for which the participant circled a number on a scale of 0 to 8. Participants rated the strength of hog odor that she or he smelled while sitting outside for 10 minutes by circling a number between 0 and 8, with 0 indicating no odor and 8 representing strong odor.
Participants rated the extent to which she or he experienced 5 dimensions of mood by circling a number between 0 and 8. 0 corresponded to “not at all” and 8 corresponded to “extremely.” The 5 mood variables are listed in step 5 of the Appendix. Participant's rated the extent to which she or he experienced 22 health symptoms in the previous 12 hours. 0 corresponded to “not at all” and 8 corresponded to “extreme.” These 22 health symptoms are listed in step 7 of the Appendix.
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Machine-Use Variable Te machine-use variable was based on the completeness of variables for which the participant used a machine. For the AirWatch monitor variables, the machine-use variable was not based on those numbers that the AirWatch maintained internally. Rather, the machine variable was based on the completeness of the AirWatch values that the participant recorded in his or her journal (Appendix 1, page 4). FEV1 and peak flow readings that participants wrote in their journals.
Two pulse, diastolic, systolic, time, and date readings that derived from 2 uses of the blood pressure monitor. These readings appeared on a print-out that the participant taped into his/her journal.
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