Characteristics of Survey Participants with and without a Telephone: Findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

This study examines the potential coverage bias in telephone surveys. Data were analyzed from the first phase of the third National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey conducted from 1988 to 1991. In that survey, 10,120 persons 17 years and older were interviewed and 9034 were examined. About 2.7% of respondents reported not having a telephone. Differences in demographic and lifestyle variables, but not physiological or anthropometric...