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RTI staff preparing survey materials for the 2000 study re-examined and updated both the CAI interview program and the Newton electronic screening program as well as all other manuals and interview materials. With veteran interviewer and new interviewer training sessions, the preparation for training required meticulous planning.
The Newton screening program for the 1999 NHSDA served as the basis for the 2000 program. Several items from the 1999 version were modified slightly for the 2000 version:
In addition, the introductory text used by FIs to introduce themselves and the study to potential respondents was modified to specify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the study sponsor (replacing SAMHSA) and also to indicate that a lead letter should have been received (instead of a lead letter from RTI should have been received).
Several other changes were made to make the Newton easier for staff to use, including improvements to the formatting of several screen displays.
Using the 1999 computer program, the following changes were made to prepare the 2000 CAI instrument:
– Adult Mental Health Services Utilization
– Adolescent Mental Health Services Utilization
– Youth Mental Health;
Corresponding audio WAV files were recorded for all new items within the ACASI portion of the interview. Materials used during the actual interview, including the Reference Date Calendar, the Pill Cards, and the Showcard Booklet, also were updated.
Using the 1999 Spanish CAI instrument, the above changes were translated and incorporated. Additional Spanish audio WAV files were recorded as well to allow respondents to listen to the ACASI sections in Spanish if necessary.
Based upon the 1999 manuals, updated versions of the below manuals were prepared. These new versions provided all staff, both experienced and new, with accurate, detailed manuals for both training and reference.
Based on the 1999 versions, the following materials were updated:
The following materials remained virtually unchanged from 1999 for use in 2000:
This section reviews the main steps necessary to prepare for New-to-Project interviewer trainings.
Prior to training, each new FI hired for screening/interviewing work was sent a home study package containing:
Trainees were instructed to:
Completed exercises were to be brought to training. Exercises were collected at registration, graded, and returned to the appropriate training team. Appendix A contains the New-to-Project home study memorandum, while Appendix B contains the home study exercises.
Using a master list of needed supplies, all supplies were prepared, ordered (if necessary), and stored in preparation for training activities throughout the survey year.
While using computers for data collection greatly reduced the production of printed materials, many paper forms were still necessary, particularly for training. A detailed, near-verbatim guide was prepared for each member of the team of trainers. Along with the training guide, numerous printed materials were developed:
The videotape developed for New-to-Project FI training in 1999 was used again in 2000. This videotape contained multiple segments for use throughout the course of New FI training. The use of the videotape provided controlled, standardized, visual representations of the various tasks assigned to S/I interviewers.
Interviewers who were RTI-Certified as bilingual interviewers attended an additional day of classroom training. A detailed, near-verbatim guide with group exercises was prepared for the bilingual trainers.
Special training sessions for all veteran interviewers were held the first week of January, 2000. Having worked in 1999, these experienced interviewers gathered to review important data collection topics, learn about changes for 2000 and practice with the newly loaded 2000 computer programs. This section reviews the main steps necessary to prepare for this special veteran training.
Prior to training, all veteran interviewers continuing for 2000 received a home study package containing:
Veteran FIs were instructed to:
Completed exercises were to be brought to training. Exercises were collected at registration, graded, and returned to the appropriate supervisor. A number of items required the FI to do more than answer a multiple-choice question; veterans had to draw on experience and apply their knowledge to described situations. Appendix C contains the Veteran home study memorandum, while Appendix D contains the home study exercises.
Using a master list of needed supplies, all supplies were prepared, ordered (if necessary), and stored in preparation for training activities throughout the survey year.
A detailed, near-verbatim Veteran Training Guide was prepared for each member of the training team. This guide was newly developed for 2000, since no veteran training sessions were held in 1999. Along with the training guide, numerous printed materials were developed:
A new videotape was developed specifically for the Veteran FI trainings for 2000. This videotape contained multiple segments illustrating various types of cooperation challenges FIs may experience while working. After viewing each situation, the class discussed what the interviewer in the video had done correctly and also offered alternatives for dealing with similar situations.
After completing the Veteran training and having the new 2000 instrument versions loaded on their computers, veteran NHSDA bilingual interviewers received an additional home study packet. Scripted exercises for both screening and interviewing guided the bilingual veterans through the translations of the instrument, being sure to cover any new items. Staff were also asked to document any problems to help improve future translations.
Appendix E contains the Veteran Bilingual home study memorandum, Appendix F contains the various home study exercises, and Appendix G includes the Language Skills Background and Feedback Forms.
To prepare for data collection a master list of needed supplies was developed. Using this list, all supplies were developed, ordered (if necessary), and stored for use in data collection activities throughout the survey year.
Veteran interviewers were given assignment materials as each new quarter approached. These materials included the Segment Materials Envelope (the envelope with the various maps and listing sheets for a segment) and a packet of lead letters. Letters were prepared and sent by the FIs prior to the time they would be working a particular area. Before beginning a new quarter's work, interviewers also transmitted from their Newton to receive their new assignments.
Trainees performing well after the first days of New-to-Project training were given assignment materials for the cases assigned to them. The assignment materials consisted only of the Segment Materials Envelope. Usually, the FS mailed the lead letters so that the trainee could begin work immediately upon the successful completion of training. Interviewers also had to transmit at the end of training to pick up their assigned cases on their Newtons. Trainees struggling during training either received a small, partial assignment or received no assignment until the adequate completion of further training. Any unassigned or partial segment kits were sent to the FSs for later assignment.
Bulk supplies were packed at RTI and shipped via Federal Express directly to the homes of veteran staff and those staff completing training successfully. During the year, additional needed supplies were requested by FSs using a re-supply ordering process on the management Website. Requested items were sent from the Field Distribution Center directly to the FIs needing supplies.
Using the power of the Internet to enhance communication, RTI staff continued to refine and enhance the two NHSDA Websites.
The up-to-date Web-based CMS enhanced the ability of all levels of management to make informed decisions based on current field conditions. Each night, data were transmitted to RTI from the interviewers' Newtons and Gateway laptops for inclusion in the CMS. The next morning, each supervisor and manager had access to the results of the previous day's work and its effect on the totals for that quarter.
Besides case work reports, the Website also contained many helpful tools, such as logs to enter new recruits, links to other pertinent sites, project calendars, and other administrative tools.
Access to this secure Website was tightly controlled with system wide security provided through secure links to the network from each user's computer. Additionally, several levels of passwords were required to enter the system. Supervisors had access limited to the information needed to manage their areas (e.g., an FS could only see data about his/her staff, while an RS viewed details about all cases and staff in his/her region).
For computer savvy respondents, an informative public NHSDA Website was maintained. Visitors to the site could access a variety of topics such as project description, confidentiality, and frequently-asked questions. Brief information was included about both SAMHSA and RTI, with links to the Websites of both organizations. Added to the site in 2000 was a listing of various users of NHSDA data which included links to those users' Websites.
Staff used an extensive inventory system to monitor the disbursement and location of all NHSDA equipment, including interviewer Newtons and Gateway laptops; management laptops, printers, faxes, and pagers; training projectors and VCRs; and the many miscellaneous parts and cords. Technical assistance to the users of the equipment was an important and necessary task.
All issued equipment received annual routine maintenance during the January veteran training sessions (for interviewing staff) or during management meetings (for management staff).
If staff left the project, equipment was returned to Technical Support for check-in and maintenance. Detailed procedures were in place to recover any equipment not readily returned by former staff.
With dedicated and experienced staff, the above preparations were completed so that data collection began as scheduled.
As in previous years, some requests for alterations in the screening and instrument text were received either just before—or after—the established deadlines. Any requested change, however slight, required another round of extensive testing to be sure the change did not impact another area of the program (this varies considerably from altering a paper version of the instrument). The Spanish versions also had to be changed and checked. If the requested change impacted the ACASI sections of the CAI, it meant reworking WAV files in both English and Spanish. Changes could also ripple through manuals and drafted training materials. Requested last minute changes burdened programmers, software testers, manual writers, and training developers and shortened the computer loading schedule. In addition, changes implemented at the last minute left very little time or made it impossible to thoroughly test the entire computer program, thus increasing the likelihood of error.
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This page was last updated on December 29, 2008. |
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SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States. 
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