title: Deployment of a mixed-mode data collection strategy does not reduce nonresponse bias in a general population health survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess nonresponse bias in a mixed-mode general population health survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of linked survey sample frame and administrative data, including demographic and health-related information.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was administered by mail with telephone follow-up to nonrespondents after two mailings. To determine whether an additional mail contact or mode switch reduced nonresponse bias, we compared all respondents (N = 3,437) to respondents from each mailing and telephone respondents to the sample frame (N = 6,716).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Switching modes did not minimize the under-representation of younger people, nonwhites, those with congestive heart failure, high users of office-based services, and low-utilizers of the emergency room but did reduce the over-representation of older adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple contact and mixed-mode surveys may increase response rates, but they do not necessarily reduce nonresponse bias.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. beebe.timothy@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.forename: Donna D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: McAlpine
authors.forename: Jeanette Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ziegenfuss
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Davern
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003256:Community Participation; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D011177:Postal Service; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013689:Telephone