Survey field methods for expanded biospecimen and biomeasure collection in NSHAP Wave 2.

Objectives: The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project is a nationally representative, longitudinal survey of older adults. A main component is the collection of biomeasures to objectively assess physiological status relevant to psychosocial variables, aging conditions, and disease. Wave 2 added novel biomeasures, refined those collected in Wave 1, and provides a reference for the collection protocols and strategy common to the biomeasures.

Continuity and innovation in the data collection protocols of the second Wave of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project.

Background: The second Wave (W2) of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), a nationally representative, longitudinal survey of older adults now between the ages of 62 and 90, conducted approximately 3,400 interviews. Selected coresidential romantic partners as well as W1 panel nonrespondents were selected for W2. Data collection included in-person questionnaires, up to 15 biomeasures, and a post-interview questionnaire.

Instrument development, study design implementation, and survey conduct for the national social life, health, and aging project.

The National Opinion Research Center, led by a team of investigators at the University of Chicago, conducted more than 3,000 in-person interviews with a nationally representative sample of adults aged 57-85 years. Data collection included in-person questionnaire items, an extensive array of biomeasures, and a postinterview self-administered questionnaire. The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) interview included the collection of 13 biomeasures: weight, waist circumference, height, blood pressure, smell, saliva collection, taste, a self-administered vaginal swab for female respondents, "Get Up and Go," distance vision, touch, oral mucosal transudate (Orasure) human immunodeficiency virus test, and blood spots.

Vaginal self-swab specimen collection in a home-based survey of older women: methods and applications.

Objectives: To describe the methods used for, cooperation with, assays conducted on, and applications of vaginal specimens collected by older women in their homes.

Methods: Community-residing women (N = 1,550), ages 57-85 years, participated in a nationally representative probability survey. Vaginal self-swab specimen collection and in-home interviews were conducted between 2005 and 2006.

Using Nonmedically Trained Interviewers to Collect Biomeasures in a National In-Home Survey.

A key operational component of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) is the use of nonmedically trained interviewers to collect biomeasures in a national in-home interview of health and aging. Few studies have integrated in-home biomeasure collection using nonmedically trained interviewers on a large scale. In this article, we discuss our approach to using nonmedically trained interviewers to collect biomeasures in the home.