E-mail or snail mail? Randomized controlled trial on which works better for surveys.
OBJECTIVE
To compare e-mail with regular mail for conducting surveys of physicians.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Ontario, Canada.


METHODS
A random sample of physicians listed in the College of Family Physicians of Canada's membership database.


METHODS
Survey delivered by e-mail and by post.


METHODS
Response rates and times, and completeness and characteristics of responses to the survey.


RESULTS
Overall response rate was 44.7% (33.6% of e-mail recipients, 52.7% of post recipients who have e-mail, and 47.8% of post recipients without e-mail). While the e-mail rate was significantly lower than for both post groups, e-mail responses were received much faster. There was no significant difference among groups as to completeness of responses, but e-mail responses had more frequent and longer comments.


CONCLUSIONS
E-mail provides faster but fewer responses to surveys. Content of structured-response questions was similar in all groups, but e-mail provided more and longer responses to open-ended questions. Where a quick response to a survey is required, e-mail is superior.
Centre for Studies in Primary Care, Department of Family Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ont.
Rachelle
R
Seguin
Marshall
M
Godwin
Susan
S
MacDonald
Marnie
M
McCall
D000328:Adult; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D011177:Postal Service; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires