title: Does questionnaire structure influence response in postal surveys?
abstract: This study tested the effect of questionnaire structure on response, speed of return, and content of answers in a postal survey. All 259 patients aged 30-59 years who consulted with back pain at four UK general practices from March to June 2001 were randomly allocated to receive either a traditionally or chronologically structured self-completion questionnaire. The response was higher and the returns quicker (P =.05) for the chronologic questionnaire. There were no statistically significant differences in completion rates or scores on the SF-36, Chronic Pain Grade, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, or Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire between the two types of questionnaire, and test-retest reliability was high for all scales. Changing questionnaire structure to make questions chronologic does not substantially affect the answers given, but may make a questionnaire more acceptable and easier to complete and speed up returns.
authors.affiliation: Keele University, Primary Care Sciences Research Centre, Hornbeam Building, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK. k.m.dunn@cphc.keele.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kate M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Kelvin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Croft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors