Comparing two methods of measuring legislation compliance among indoor tanning facilities

BackgroundAccurate measurement of compliance by tanning facilities to indoor tanning legislation is important.ObjectiveThis study compared a telephone-based measurement procedure with a face-to-face visit.MethodsIndoor tanning facilities (N = 115) in San Diego County, California, were contacted by two adolescents posing as prospective customers using each method. Two compliance variables were assessed: number of times one can tan during 1 week and written parental consent for minors.ResultsFacility compliance with the frequency variable by face-to-face and telephone was 25.5% and 17.5%, respectively. These rates for the parental consent variable were 73.3% and 80.8%, respectively. Percent agreement between data collection methods was 71.3% for compliance with the frequency recommendation and 76.3% for parental consent regulation. Although traditional statistical tests indicated poor concordance, an alternative test indicated good concordance.LimitationsLevels of concordance for the confederates differed.ConclusionTelephone assessment of compliance is fairly comparable with the more labor-intensive, face-to-face assessment.