Objectives

We report on a pilot project that used a telephone-based interactive voice response system, accessed by cellular phones at diverses sites, to interview homeless persons on their need for alcohol and other drug treatment.

Methods

Using this technique, we surveyed 207 homeless adults at eight shelters in Cleveland, Ohio.

Results

The cellular approach was comparable to human-administrated interviews in reliability and validity and yielded higher self-reported levels of drug used.

Conclusions

Cellular telephones and interactive voice response interviewing systems can be useful tools in assessing for the health-service needs of difficult-to-reach populations.