Mixed contact methods to improve response to a postal questionnaire.
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Weston, D
Parsons, V
Ntani, G
Rushton, L
Madan, I
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background: Postal questionnaires remain an important method of collecting data in trials. However, a high non-response rate can lead to biases, which may undermine the validity of the study. Aims: To assess a simple method of trying to improve response rates in an occupational health trial evaluating an intervention to prevent hand dermatitis in nurses. Methods: The trial employed questionnaires at t = 0, t = 1 month and t = 12 months. The t = 1 month questionnaire was posted to study participants (student and intensive care nurses) together with a free postage reply envelope. After 2 weeks, an e-mail was sent to non-responders reinforcing the need for completed questionnaires to be returned. Two weeks later, non-responders were sent another hard copy of the questionnaire, along with an accompanying letter. Six weeks after posting the initial questionnaires, non-responders were sent an SMS text message or were telephoned to remind them to return the questionnaire. Results: The response rates for the 744 student nurses were 8% (no reminder), 27% (after first reminder), 22% (after second reminder) and 27% (after the third reminder), resulting in a response rate of 63%. The response rates for the 959 intensive care nurses were 9% (no reminder), 24% (after first reminder), 24% (after second reminder) and 31% (after third reminder), resulting in a final response rate of 63%. Conclusions: We found that a series of regular reminders including a third, personalized reminder by SMS text or telephone had a positive impact on non-responders.
Date Issued
2017-03-24
Date Acceptance
2017-03-01
Citation
Occupational Medicine-Oxford, 2017, 67 (4), pp.305-307
ISSN
1471-8405
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Start Page
305
End Page
307
Journal / Book Title
Occupational Medicine-Oxford
Volume
67
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine.
All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com. This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Occupational Medicine following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version D. Weston, V. Parsons, G. Ntani, L. Rushton, I. Madan; Mixed contact methods to improve response to a postal questionnaire. Occup Med (Lond) 2017; 67 (4): 305-307. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqx032 is available online at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqx032
All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com. This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Occupational Medicine following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version D. Weston, V. Parsons, G. Ntani, L. Rushton, I. Madan; Mixed contact methods to improve response to a postal questionnaire. Occup Med (Lond) 2017; 67 (4): 305-307. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqx032 is available online at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqx032
Sponsor
National Institute for Health Research
Identifier
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28371932
PII: 3089758
Grant Number
651125
Subjects
Nurses
occupational health
responses rates
students
trials.
Environmental & Occupational Health
1117 Public Health And Health Services
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England