title: Day-of-the-week effect on doctors' response to a postal questionnaire.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test a possible day-of-the-week effect on doctors' response rate to a postal questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dispatch of postal questionnaire randomized to Thursday or Saturday.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide survey on doctors' attitudes.
  
  
  METHODS
  200 general practitioners and 260 practising specialists/consultants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Response rate and Kaplan-Meier survival curve for no-response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The probability of response was not influenced by receiving the questionnaire just before or just after a week-end.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Response rates in postal surveys sent to doctors cannot be improved by their receiving the questionnaire just before a week-end.
authors.affiliation: Central Research Unit of General Practice, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: N de F
authors.initials: Nde F
authors.lastname: Olivarius
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Andreasen
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors