Supporting Statement Part B

The respondent universe for this feasibility study will be a convenience sample of adults (Study 1) and exiting MEPS panelists who have recently completed their final MEPS interview (Study 2). Specific details for each study are provided below.

Study 1: Craigslist is available in all geographic areas in the country and will allow us to spread the sample across the country. For this reason, we do not believe there is a need to use another online recruitment source, which introduces additional complexities when only recruiting 25 individuals. Westat will program a recruitment screener that will be used to identify a geographically diverse set of individuals (Attachment 1B). The primary recruitment strategy will be to post ads on Craigslist in six metropolitan areas across the U.S. We anticipate the ads will generate a sufficient pool of participants that will allow us to draw a purposive sample of 25 households that will reflect a mix of household sizes, demographic characteristics and healthcare utilization. The online survey screener will ask for the following elements:

Household composition (to recruit a mix of different sized households)
Demographics (to recruit a mix of geography gender, age, education, and race/ethnicity)
Number of health care visits in the past 3 months for each person in household (recruit a mix of number of visits)
Number of upcoming health care visits in the next 2 months for each person in the household (recruit a mix of number of upcoming visits)
Ability and willingness to participate in a series of two 30-minute Zoom interviews and one 90 minute Zoom interview over the upcoming 3 months, with a $25 electronic incentive provided after each 30 minute interview, and a $75 incentive for the 90-minute interview.
Provision of contact information including name, phone number and email address.

Those who are eligible and interested based on the web recruitment screener will be contacted by phone by a recruiter who will confirm their information, explain the process for the series of interviews, and schedule a time for the first Zoom interview (Attachment 1C).

Scheduled respondents will receive an email confirmation containing the Zoom link for the interview, basic instructions for how to use Zoom (Attachment 1D), an informed consent form (Attachment 1E), and a request to have records handy for the interview.
Participants will receive a reminder email and phone call within 24 hours of their first interview.

Study 2: Shortly after their final MEPS interview, a sample of respondents from Panels 23 and 25 who are retiring from MEPS will be sent a letter in the mail asking if they would be willing to participate in a special project to help improve the MEPS study (Attachment 2A). If interested, they will be instructed to email or call Westat to express interest, and will be taken through a short recruitment screener to confirm eligibility (Attachment 2B). The sample will consist of households across utilization levels, presence of chronic conditions, and age, in order to reflect a variety of household types. The goal is to recruit ten respondents. These respondents will be asked to participate in one 30-minute interview where an interviewer observes on Zoom as they complete the monthly check-in instrument, and one 90-minute focus group with other retiring MEPS respondents over Zoom. Incentives will include a $25 electronic incentive provided after the monthly check-in interview, and a $75 electronic incentive for participation in the focus group. Those who agree to participate will receive an email confirmation containing the Zoom link for the interview, basic instructions for how to use Zoom (Attachment 2C), an informed consent form (Attachment 2D), and a request to have records handy for the interview.

B2. Data Collection Procedures

Study 1 participants will be asked to complete two monthly check-ins while being observed by an interviewer on Zoom, and then will be asked to participate in a detailed healthcare event interview that incorporates monthly check-in data into the interview.

Study 2 participants will be asked to log onto Zoom to complete one monthly check-in with a qualitative debriefing, and then will participate in a Zoom focus group with other retiring panelists. The focus group will gather their general reactions to their MEPS experience as it relates to improving the quality of the information collected on the survey, as well as other ways to conducting the survey that could improve quality and reduce burden.

B3. Methods to Maximize Response

We will strive to maximize participation each study while retaining the voluntary nature of participation. Methods will include:

Using a live recruiter to explain details of the study after potential participants complete the web screener.
Sending email confirmations and reminders prior to each Zoom session.
Providing electronic gift cards via email after participation in each part of the study.

B4. Tests of Procedures or Methods

This data collection effort is a test of procedures for implementing a monthly check-in for MEPS respondents. Results from the study will be used to determine the feasibility of introducing a monthly check-in into the regular MEPS cycle.

B5. Statistical and Data Collection Consultants

The study designs, sampling approaches, and data collection procedures were designed by Westat under the leadership of:

Brad Edwards, PhD

Vice President and MEPS Principal Investigator

Westat

1600 Research Blvd.

Rockville, MD 20850

Rick Dulaney, PhD

Vice President and MEPS Principal Investigator

Westat

1600 Research Blvd.

Rockville, MD 20850

David Cantor, PhD

Vice President and MEPS Methodologist

Westat

1600 Research Blvd.

Rockville, MD 20850

File Type	application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
File Title	DRAFT Supporting Statement A for Survey of Hospital Quality Leaders
Subject	Supporting Statement A for Hospice Experience of Care Survey
Author	The RAND Corporation
File Modified	0000-00-00
File Created	2024-07-28