Designing a Digital Health Survey

3.3.1 Begin with the purpose

Before writing survey questions, ask: what do we need to find out, and why?

Suppose an NGO wants to understand why some people in a fictional community do not attend a particular health service. The objective might be: to identify commonly reported barriers to accessing the specified service among the survey participants. This objective helps guide the questions. Without a clear objective, you may collect information that does not help answer the problem.

3.3.2 Choose questions that match the objective

• Did you access the specified service during the defined period?
• If not, what was the main reason?
• How long did it take you to reach the facility?
• What changes would make the service easier to access?

The questions should be relevant to the objective and understandable to the respondents.

3.3.3 Avoid ambiguous questions

“Do you regularly attend the clinic?” does not say what regularly means. Every week? Every month? Whenever the respondent needs care?

A clearer question defines the period: “Did you attend the clinic at least once during the past three months?” The appropriate period depends on the service and the purpose of the survey.

3.3.4 Avoid leading questions

A leading question encourages a particular answer. “Do you agree that the clinic's poor service prevents people from attending?” assumes the clinic provides poor service.

A more neutral alternative: “What factors, if any, made it difficult for you to access the service?” Neutral wording helps reduce the risk of influencing responses.

3.3.5 Understand response options

• Transport costs.
• Distance to the facility.
• Waiting time.
• Service unavailable.
• Cost of care.
• Other.
• Prefer not to answer.

The available options should fit the context, and respondents should not be forced to disclose information unnecessarily. If respondents can experience multiple barriers, decide whether the question should allow multiple selections.

3.3.6 Plan for privacy and consent

• Whether the survey requires informed consent.
• What information is necessary.
• Whether identifying details can be avoided.
• Who can access the responses.
• How long the information will be retained.
• How results will be reported without exposing individuals.

The applicable requirements depend on the purpose of the survey, the population and the relevant legal and ethical framework.

Lesson summary

A good digital survey starts with a clear objective, uses neutral questions, provides suitable response options and protects respondents' information.