title: The effect of timing when seeking permission to access personal health services utilization records.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the timing for requesting signed permission to access personal health services utilization records affects authorization or survey response rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A screening question about in-principle willingness to permit access to personal health services utilization records was included in a mail-based survey of two Australian female samples (n = 292). Half of the surveys for each sample also included a separate form to be signed to approve access. For the other half the form was not included, but an authorization form was sent subsequently.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Around 30% of participants signed the authorization form and there was no significant difference between the randomized groups [ relative risk (RR) = 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.72-1.25). However, the response rate to the postal survey was significantly higher for the group who received the form after returning the questionnaire (60% compared to 46%; RR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.06-1.62).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A two-staged approach, with a time lag between seeking in principle permission to access personal health services utilization records and requesting signed authorization, does not affect authorization rates. In addition, it results in a significantly higher survey response rate than if an authorization form is included with the survey.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, ACT, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Marluce Salim
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Wayne T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bammer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016387:Women's Health