A web-based survey about protein supplementation amongst net-surfers. An innovative approach using Protein Project Google App©

Abstract

Web surveys present methodological challenges including lower response rates as compared to other survey methods like face to face interview, self reports using questionnaire and phone interview. The efficacy and appropriateness of design elements of invitations to participate in a web survey is not yet well understood for many reasons. To understand the feasibility of this innovative approach, an experiment (Protein Project) with key questions regarding protein supplementation was set up according to previous findings (Goston et al. 2004; Bianco et al. 2011). A Google App© was used to generate a questionnaire with seven-items and subsequently the created form was redirected to various social networks and fitness/wellness web communities (fitnessa360.com; iarfonline. com; facebook.com; twitter.com). The target of the Protein Project was 20/50 years old net-surfers (NS) that voluntarily and phishing free, visited the webpage and answered the questions. At this stag! e 326 NS participated to the study. As expected, the majority of them were male (63,40%) and the range of age more representative was 21-30 years (70,90%). Three to five hours (38,60%) sitting time was the most chosen interval from NS followed by 5-8 hour interval (31,20%). The results show a percentage of 36,20 of protein supplement usage among NS, of these, 38,50% declare that have autonomously chosen to take them and 32,30% that have been advised from their instructor. It is interesting to note that despite the methodological approach is new with a low response rate, the results are in line with Goston’s and Bianco’s findings. What’s new in this approach is to collect a huge amount data with low costs, simple and direct procedures. The project at this stage leads to the validation so it needs to achieve the reliability of web page surveys (currently in Italian and English) hoping that future results will still remain in line with what already found in t! his pilot. References • Bianco A et al. (2011) Protein supplementation in strength and conditioning adepts: knowledge, dietary behavior and practice in Palermo, Italy. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. Dec 29;8(1):25. • Goston JL, Correia MI (2010) Intake of nutritional supplements among people exercising in gyms and influencing factors. Nutrition 26:604-611 • Morrison LJ, Gizis F, Shorter B (2004) Prevalent use of dietary supplements among people who exercise at a commercial gym. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 14(4):481-92