Nakash, Rachel Anne, Hutton, Jane, Jørstad-Stein, Ellen C., Gates, Simon and Lamb, S. E. (Sallie E.) (2006) Maximising response to postal questionnaires – A systematic review of randomised trials in health research. BMC Medical Research Methodology, Vol.6 (No.5). doi:10.1186/1471-2288-6-5

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Abstract

Background
Postal self-completion questionnaires offer one of the least expensive modes of collecting patient based outcomes in health care research. The purpose of this review is to assess the efficacy of methods of increasing response to postal questionnaires in health care studies on patient populations.

Methods
The following databases were searched: Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CDSR, PsycINFO, NRR and ZETOC. Reference lists of relevant reviews and relevant journals were hand searched. Inclusion criteria were randomised trials of strategies to improve questionnaire response in health care research on patient populations. Response rate was defined as the percentage of questionnaires returned after all follow-up efforts. Study quality was assessed by two independent reviewers. The Mantel-Haenszel method was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios.

Results
Thirteen studies reporting fifteen trials were included. Implementation of reminder letters and telephone contact had the most significant effect on response rates (odds ratio 3.7, 95% confidence interval 2.30 to 5.97 p = <0.00001). Shorter questionnaires also improved response rates to a lesser degree (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.19 to 1.54). No evidence was found that incentives, re-ordering of questions or including an information brochure with the questionnaire confer any additional advantage.

Conclusion
Implementing repeat mailing strategies and/or telephone reminders may improve response to postal questionnaires in health care research. Making the questionnaire shorter may also improve response rates. There is a lack of evidence to suggest that incentives are useful. In the context of health care research all strategies to improve response to postal questionnaires require further evaluation.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Statistics Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Mail surveys, Medical care surveys
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Medical Research Methodology
Publisher:	BioMed Central Ltd.
ISSN:	1471-2288
Official Date:	23 February 2006
Dates:	Date Event 23 February 2006 UNSPECIFIED
Volume:	Vol.6
Number:	No.5
DOI:	10.1186/1471-2288-6-5
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	University of Warwick

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