Sampling for Patient Exit Interviews: Assessment of Methods Using Mathematical Derivation and Computer Simulations.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

(1) To evaluate the operational efficiency of various sampling methods for patient exit interviews; (2) to discuss under what circumstances each method yields an unbiased sample; and (3) to propose a new, operationally efficient, and unbiased sampling method.

Study design

Literature review, mathematical derivation, and Monte Carlo simulations.

Principal findings

Our simulations show that in patient exit interviews it is most operationally efficient if the interviewer, after completing an interview, selects the next patient exiting the clinical consultation. We demonstrate mathematically that this method yields a biased sample: patients who spend a longer time with the clinician are overrepresented. This bias can be removed by selecting the next patient who e

SUBMITTER: Geldsetzer P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5785309 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature