title: Labour-saving strategies to maintain survey response rates: a randomised trial.
abstract: To evaluate response-aiding strategies feasible in large surveys, we randomly allocated general practitioners (GPs) to one of four intervention groups: Group 1 received 'exhaustive' telephone prompts by a medical peer in advance of a questionnaire; Group 2, inclusion of an embossed pen with the questionnaire; Group 3, an advance letter prompt; and Group 4, a 'single attempt' advance telephone prompt by a non-medical research assistant. Follow-up procedures were identical. Response rates by group were not significantly different overall (chi 2 = 4.59, df = 3, p = 0.20) although advance prompts by a medical peer were significantly more effective than other strategies for male GPs. The difference in overall response rates between males (63%) and females (74%) was significant (chi 2 = 15.40, df = 1, p < 0.01). No other response bias was evident. Our demonstration of a significant interaction between respondent sex and response-aiding strategy invites further research.
authors.affiliation: CSAHS Needs Assessment and Health Outcomes Unit, New South Wales.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: D'Este
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sladden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D003625:Data Collection / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005653:Fund Raising; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D010379:Peer Group; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013689:Telephone; D014941:Work Simplification