title: Improving survey response rates from parents in school-based research using a multi-level approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While schools can provide a comprehensive sampling frame for community-based studies of children and their families, recruitment is challenging. Multi-level approaches which engage multiple school stakeholders have been recommended but few studies have documented their effects. This paper compares the impact of a standard versus enhanced engagement approach on multiple indicators of recruitment: parent response rates, response times, reminders required and sample characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents and teachers were distributed a brief screening questionnaire as a first step for recruitment to a longitudinal study, with two cohorts recruited in consecutive years (cohort 1 2011, cohort 2 2012). For cohort 2, additional engagement strategies included the use of pre-notification postcards, improved study materials, and recruitment progress graphs provided to school staff. Chi-square and t-tests were used to examine cohort differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to cohort 1, a higher proportion of cohort 2 parents responded to the survey (76% versus 69%; p < 0.001), consented to participate (71% versus 56%; p < 0.001), agreed to teacher participation (90% versus 82%; p < 0.001) and agreed to follow-up contact (91% versus 80%; p < 0.001). Fewer cohort 2 parents required reminders (52% versus 63%; p < 0.001), and cohort 2 parents responded more promptly than cohort 1 parents (mean difference: 19.4 days, 95% CI: 18.0 to 20.9, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results illustrate the value of investing in a relatively simple multi-level strategy to maximise parent response rates, and potentially reduce recruitment time and costs.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Schilpzand
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC Australia; The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC Australia; The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sciberras
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC Australia; The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC Australia; The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia.
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Efron
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC Australia; The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC Australia; The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC Australia; Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC Australia; The Parenting Research Centre, Melbourne, VIC Australia.
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Nicholson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires