Table 1

Demographic profile of respondents by survey mode


Telephone (n = 2999)
Face-to-face (n = 2893)
Face-to-face EWP (n = 2206)

% (95% CI)
% (95% CI)
% (95% CI)

Sex



     Male
49.0 (47.2–50.8)
49.0 (47.2–50.8)
48.3 (46.2–50.4)
     Female
51.0 (49.2–52.8)
51.0 (49.2–52.8)
51.7 (49.6–53.8)
Age group (years)



     18 to 24
12.1 (11.0–13.3)
12.0 (10.9–13.3)
10.2 (9.0–11.5)
     25 to 34
17.2 (15.9–18.6)
17.2 (15.9–18.7)
15.4 (13.9–16.9)
     35 to 44
19.3 (17.9–20.8)
19.3 (17.9–20.8)
18.7 (17.1–20.4)
     45 to 54
18.2 (16.8–19.6)
18.2 (16.8–19.6)
17.9 (16.4–19.6)
     55 to 64
13.9 (12.7–15.2)
13.9 (12.7–15.2)
14.9 (13.5–16.5)
     65 to 74
9.8 (8.8–10.9)
9.8 (8.8–10.9)
11.7 (10.4–13.1)
     75+
9.5 (8.5–10.6)
9.5 (8.5–10.6)
11.2 (10.0–12.6)
Country of birth



     Australia
77.9 (76.4–79.3)
74.8 (73.2–76.3)*
75.7 (73.9–77.4)
     UK/Ireland
11.1 (10.1–12.3)
11.5 (10.4–12.7)
11.6 (10.3–13.0)
     Other
11.0 (9.9–12.1)
13.7 (12.5–15.0)*
12.7 (11.4–14.1)
Marital status



     Married/de facto
67.7 (66.0–69.3)
66.1 (64.4–67.8)
69.4 (67.4–71.3)
     Separated/divorced/widowed
13.4 (12.2–14.7)
15.3 (14.0–16.7)
14.5 (13.1–16.1)
     Never married
18.9 (17.5–20.3)
18.5 (17.2–20.0)
16.0 (14.6–17.6)*
Area of residence



     Metropolitan
74.0 (72.4–75.6)
72.8 (71.2–74.4)
72.0 (70.1–73.8)
     Country
26.0 (24.4–27.6)
27.2 (25.6–28.8)
28.0 (26.2–29.9)
Highest education level



     Still at school
1.6 (1.2–2.1)
0.9 (0.6–1.3)
0.9 (0.6–1.4)
     Left school at age 15 or younger
16.1 (14.9–17.5)
12.2 (11.1–13.5)**
12.9 (11.6–14.4)*
     Left school after age 15
34.0 (32.3–35.7)
32.0 (30.3–33.7)
31.3 (29.4–33.3)
     Trade/Apprenticeship
12.2 (11.0–13.4)
14.6 (13.3–15.9)*
14.5 (13.1–16.0)
     Certificate/Diploma
18.3 (16.9–19.7)
23.9 (22.4–25.5)**
24.5 (22.7–26.3)**
     Bachelor degree or higher
17.8 (16.5–19.2)
16.4 (15.1–17.8)
15.9 (14.4–17.5)
Gross annual household income



     Up to $20,000
15.1 (13.9–16.5)
17.8 (16.4–19.2)*
17.3 (15.8–18.9)
     $20,001 to $40,000
18.4 (17.0–19.8)
18.0 (16.7–19.5)
17.2 (15.6–18.8)
     $40,001 to $60,000
18.3 (16.9–19.7)
17.8 (16.5–19.3)
17.6 (16.1–19.3)
     More than $60,000
37.5 (35.7–39.2)
34.7 (33.0–36.5)
35.6 (33.6–37.6)
     Not stated
10.8 (9.7–11.9)
11.6 (10.5–12.8)
12.4 (11.1–13.8)
Employment status



     Full time employed
41.8 (40.1–43.6)
40.1 (38.3–41.9)
39.2 (37.1–41.2)
     Part time/casual employed
18.6 (17.3–20.1)
17.5 (16.1–18.9)
17.3 (15.7–18.9)
     Unemployed/unable to work
5.6 (4.8–6.4)
3.4 (2.8–4.2)**
2.2 (1.7–2.9)**
     Home duties
9.1 (8.1–10.2)
11.5 (10.4–12.7)*
11.5 (10.3–12.9)*
     Retired
19.4 (18.0–20.9)
20.5 (19.1–22.0)
24.0 (22.2–25.8)**
     Student
4.5 (3.8–5.3)
5.1 (4.3–5.9)
4.6 (3.8–5.6)
     Not stated
1.0 (0.7–1.4)
1.9 (1.5–2.5)*
1.2 (0.8–1.8)
Occupation



     Manager/Administrator/Professional
22.6 (21.1–24.1)
19.6 (18.2–21.1)*
20.6 (19.0–22.4)
     Associate professional
8.7 (7.7–9.7)
7.2 (6.3–8.2)
7.1 (6.1–8.2)
     Tradesperson/Advanced clerical or service
16.1 (14.8–17.4)
21.2 (19.8–22.7)**
21.6 (19.9–23.3)**
     Intermediate clerical/service/sales/production/transport
23.9 (22.4–25.5)
23.9 (22.4–25.5)
23.9 (22.1–25.7)
     Elementary clerical, sales, service/labourer
20.2 (18.8–21.7)
19.5 (18.1–20.9)
18.2 (16.7–19.9)
     Not stated/Home duties/Student/Never worked
8.5 (7.6–9.6)
8.6 (7.6–9.7)
8.7 (7.6–9.9)

* p < 0.01 ** p < 0.001 Statistically significantly different from telephone survey

Chittleborough et al. BMC Medical Research Methodology 2008 8:54   doi:10.1186/1471-2288-8-54