STUDY OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to determine whether complete anonymity improves the response rates to a postal questionnaire. DESIGN The study derived from a series of postal surveys on AIDS knowledge conducted on six different dates in 1986 and 1987. The sample was randomly divided into two, each group being sent the same questionnaire. One group was informed that the replies were ...

BACKGROUND Effectiveness of Chlamydia screening programs is determined by an adequate level of participation and the capturing of high-risk groups. This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of automated reminders by letter, email and short message service (SMS) on package request and sample return in an Internet-based Chlamydia screening among people aged 16 to 29 years in the Netherlands. ...

In computer science we are used to characterize systems in terms of levels of virtual machines. In other words, we are dealing with virtual worlds. For virtual worlds the rationalistic perspective is well suited, i.e. general rules can be logically applied to situations characterized by objects with well-defined properties. However, software design is concerned with developing systems for the r...

The 22-page subject index of the report of the AERA Panel on Research and Teacher Education (Cochran-Smith and Zeichner, 2006) has no entries referring to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and only two referring to computers. Several chapters remark that teachers should develop ICT skills, but what this actually means is not discussed to any substantial degree. This does not mea...

Capturing and sharing software architecture design rationale has always been particularly challenging in complex application domains such as enterprise computing. Facing the ongoing acceleration of technology innovation and economic forces such as outsourcing and offshoring, conservative knowledge management practices and existing tools are no longer sufficient, offering only rudimentary suppor...

BACKGROUND Situational interest is articulated theoretically as a construct associated with five dimensional sources: novelty, challenge, attention demand, exploration intention, and instant enjoyment. AIMS This study aimed to examine the influence of the dimensional sources on situational interest. It was hypothesised that the dimensional sources function differently to contribute to situati...

Despite constant reminders, warnings on avoidance techniques, information security policies, and anti-virus software reminders, individuals still fall prey to malware attacks. This paper looks at the role that familiarity and trust play on the individual’s intention to click-through web based malware. Hypotheses are developed to suggest that click-through intention is influenced by trust and fa...

Methods Participants in one of the three study centres were alternately allocated to either be telephoned 2-7 days before sending an 8-month follow-up questionnaire by post or email, or to be sent the questionnaire without pre-calling. All participants received up to five questionnaire completion reminders. The primary outcome was completion of the PHQ-9 outcome. Secondary outcomes were number ...

BACKGROUND Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) often have suboptimal adherence rates to nebulized medication. Adherence barriers cited include forgetting to take the nebulizers, due to busy home and social lives. Text message reminders have been shown to be effective at improving adherence rates in other chronic diseases such as asthma and diabetes. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to...