title: Enhancing response rates in physician surveys: the limited utility of electronic options.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the utility of offering physicians electronic options as alternatives to completing mail questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of colorectal cancer screening practices of Alabama primary care physicians, conducted May-June 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the follow-up to a mail questionnaire, physicians were offered options of completing surveys by telephone, fax, email, or online.
  
  
  METHODS
  Detailed records were kept on the timing and mode of completion of surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-eight percent of surveys were returned by mail, 10 percent were returned by fax, and only 2 percent were completed online; none were completed by telephone or email.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Offering fax options increases response rates, but providing other electronic options does not.
authors.affiliation: USA Polling Group, University of South Alabama, 5591 USA Drive North, Room 222, Mobile, AL 36688, USA. knicholls@usouthal.edu
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: Margaret Murray
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crutchfield
authors.forename: Eddie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009042:Motivation; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011177:Postal Service; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016636:Telefacsimile; D013689:Telephone