A randomized trial of the impact of certified mail on response rate to a physician survey, and a cost-effectiveness analysis.
This study's goals were to (a) determine whether sending a survey by certified mail results in a higher response rate from physicians compared to sending by first-class mail and (b) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this method. The study sample was 409 physicians who were nonrespondents to two previous mailings of a medical specialty society survey. Eligible physicians were designated at random to receive a final mailing either by U.S. Postal Service certified mail including a return-receipt postcard or by first-class mail. There was a higher response rate from the certified mail group compared with the first-class mail group (41.3% versus 24.8%; relative risk = 1.66, 95% Confidence interval 1.25, 2.21). A cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the cost per respondent was higher using certified mail versus first-class mail in the third mailing ($2.77 versus $2.34). Thus, use of certified mail is effective in increasing survey response but more costly.
Del Valle
M L
ML
UCLA School of Medicine, USA.
Morgenstern
H
H
Rogstad
T L
TL
Albright
C
C
Vickrey
B G
BG
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003625:Data Collection / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009462:Neurology; D011177:Postal Service / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014481:United States