Personality characteristics of health care satisfaction survey non-respondents.
OBJECTIVE
Patient satisfaction surveys are increasingly used to assess the quality of health care delivery. Unfortunately, survey non-response may compromise generalizability (and inferential value). Although prior studies demonstrate an association between patient socio-demographic variables and response rate, relatively little information is available linking personality factors to non-response. This paper's purpose is to define outpatient satisfaction survey non-responder personality characteristics.


METHODS
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory profiles of patients who completed an outpatient satisfaction survey were compared with non-responder profiles. Multivariate analysis was used to adjust for demographic and personality covariates. The study sample included 1,862 medical outpatients who were sent a satisfaction survey and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory results on record at this institution. Of these, 1,255 were survey responders and 607 were non-responders.


RESULTS
Scores on three Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scales were significantly correlated with non-response: higher scores on scales 4--Psychopathic deviate (Pd) and 8--Schizophrenia (Sc) predicted an increased likelihood of non-response (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; p < or = 0.05 for both), and higher scores on 7--sychasthenia (Pt) were associated with a decreased likelihood of non-response (OR, 0.98; p < or = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Prior investigations demonstrate an association between patient socio-demographic factors and survey non-response. This paper uniquely highlights patient personality characteristics' contribution to non-response. This information is an important consideration for patient satisfaction survey design, administration and interpretation.
McLeod
Thomas G
TG
Division of Primary Care Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. mcleod.Thomas@mayo.edu
Costello
Brian A
BA
Colligan
Robert C
RC
Dierkhising
Ross A
RA
Beebe
Timothy J
TJ
Offord
Kenneth P
KP
Locke
G Richard
GR
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires