Use of audience-response systems or ‘clickers' to evaluate episodes to promote healthy behaviors among Hispanics

Research and evaluation data collection among immigrant populations can present many challenges. While language and literacy issues are the most apparent, immigrants' concern about privacy and anonymity pose a barrier to consent. In conducting a community-based participatory study to develop and evaluate a pilot radio program to promote healthy lifestyles in the Hispanic community, we addressed these challenges by using audience-response systems (ARS) in theatre-style testing to facilitate data collection from Hispanic participants. ARS is not only advantageous to respondents because it reduces literacy issues and concerns about privacy and anonymity, but also to researchers because audience response rates can be monitored throughout the process and data are rapidly available. Here we report the use of this technology for program evaluation among a unique population. Methods: We held a series of four theater-style testing sessions over the course of three months with a cohort of target audience members. We developed questionnaires to determine the participants' knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding health issues of interest and their reactions to the program in terms of entertainment appeal. The audience members were presented with multiple-choice questions on a screen while it was read aloud in Spanish and they were given appropriate time to answer by “clicking on” the item response of their choice. ARS software entered responses directly into a database. Results: Along with characteristics of the listening audiences and details of the methodology, we will report participants' feedback about the use of ARS compared to other forms of data collection.