JMIR Public Health and Surveillance · Published 2026-07-16 · DOI 10.2196/86333
Sally J Kim, Cyanna McGowan, Shaina J Alexandria, Grace D Achepohl, Lauren Hoffer, Norrina B. Allen, Mandy Wong, Kiarri N Kershaw
Abstract BackgroundAn ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a methodological framework designed to capture real-time data in a participant’s natural environment, yet its feasibility in older adults, particularly in a large, multisite study, remains underexplored. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the feasibility of implementing automated daily phone surveys in a large, geographically diverse cohort of older adults. MethodsA total of 1283 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) were enrolled across 6 US field sites. Participants were scheduled to receive 1 automated phone survey per day for 7 consecutive days following a clinic visit. Feasibility was assessed through a dual lens of participant engagement (survey adherence, phone survey duration, and cancellations) and administrative implementation (scheduling errors). ResultsOf the 1272 participants who received at least 1 of the 7 phone surveys, high adherence was observed, with 81.84% (1041/1272) completing 5 to 7 surveys. Age was the only demographic characteristic significantly associated with completion (P ConclusionsFindings support the feasibility of automated daily phone surveys for collecting repeated real-world data in large, multisite studies of older adults. Future studies should incorporate standardized participant feedback to identify barriers to engagement and support more inclusive, participant-centered adaptations of automated phone-based EMA protocols.
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Kim, S., McGowan, C., Alexandria, S., et al. (2026). Automated Daily Phone Surveys in Older Adults: Feasibility Study in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance. https://doi.org/10.2196/86333