Use of Telephone Interviews for Oral Health Surveys in Iran: A Literature Review

The use of telephone surveys to explore people's oral health and its determinants is gaining popularity around the world. In Iran, several oral health surveys have been carried out using telephone interviews, each providing unique perspectives on the subject. This study aimed to examine the context, methodology, and findings of these surveys.

A comprehensive search was conducted on online databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, MagIran, and IranMedex, supplemented by a free online lookup, to find available oral health studies in Iran involving telephone interviews up to June 2023. The literature was investigated with respect to the background setting, study design, outcomes, and other pertinent content.

 Thirteen papers, both published and unpublished, from eight studies were identified, spanning from 2006 to 2023. The primary target groups were predominantly the entire adult population of the respective cities. All studies that mentioned their call settings used fixed telephone lines. The calculated sample sizes ranged from 368 to 1475, with the number of participants varying from 302 to 1475. The ratio of completed interviews to answered calls fluctuated between 41% and 100%. A significant disparity was noted in the reporting of sample size calculations and response rates among the studies included.

 A relatively small number of oral health surveys have been conducted via telephone in Iran. The reported benefits and disadvantages of using phone calls for interviews suggest that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks, thus garnering interest in using this method in the country. It is recommended that the design of these studies follow a clear and comprehensive approach, thereby facilitating easier interpretation, comparison, and decision-making