Not another questionnaire! Maximizing the response rate, predicting non-response and assessing non-response bias in postal questionnaire studies of GPs
Not another questionnaire! Maximizing the response rate, predicting non-response and assessing non-response bias in postal questionnaire studies of GPs
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DOI：
10.1093/fampra/19.1.105
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发表时间：
2002-02-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Wyatt, P
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Barclay, S;Todd, C;Wyatt, P
背景资料。在调查研究中，无回答是一个重要的潜在偏差来源。随着全科医生应答率下降的证据，在对全科医生进行邮政问卷调查时，寻求最大限度地提高应答率并评估无回答偏差的可能性变得越来越重要。我们的目的是在对全科医生进行邮寄问卷研究时，调查跟踪程序的有效性，使用公开可获得的数据来评估无回答偏差，并开发预测应答者行为的回归模型。采用邮寄问卷调查方法，随机抽取威尔士全科医生600人，对其姑息治疗知识和培训情况进行调查。累积回复率曲线图允许后续邮件的最佳时间安排：最终回复率达到67.6%。应答者和非应答者在几个参数上存在差异，样本和总体在一些参数上存在差异：其中一些参数可能会对样本数据产生偏差。Logistic回归分析显示，医学院学历和目前皇家全科医生学院的会员资格是唯一显著预测应答者的因素。较晚的应答者明显更有可能获得更长的资格。这项研究对未来全科医生的邮政问卷研究有几点启示。提醒的最佳时机可以通过绘制累积响应率来判断：至少值得发送三次提醒。没有几个参数可以显著预测不太可能有反应的全科医生；其中更多的参数可能包括在样本中，或者他们可能成为特别关注的目标。可公开获得的数据可以很容易地用于分析无回答偏差和概括性。
Background. Non-response is an important potential source of bias in survey research. With evidence of falling response rates from GPs, it is of increasing importance when undertaking postal questionnaire surveys of GPs to seek to maximize response rates and evaluate the potential for non-response bias.Objectives. Our aim was to investigate the effectiveness of follow-up procedures when undertaking a postal questionnaire study of GPs, the use of publicly available data in assessing non-response bias and the development of regression models predicting responder behaviour.Method. A postal questionnaire study was carried out of a random sample of 600 GPs in Wales concerning their training and knowledge in palliative care.Results. A cumulative response rate graph permitted optimal timing of follow-up mailings: a final response rate of 67.6% was achieved. Differences were found between responders and non-responders on several parameters and between sample and population on some parameters: some of these may bias the sample data. Logistic regression analysis indicated medical school of qualification and current membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners to be the only significant predictors of responders. Late responders were significantly more likely to have been qualified for longer.Conclusions. This study has several implications for future postal questionnaire studies of GPs. The optimal timing of reminders may be judged from plotting the cumulative response rate: it is worth sending at least three reminders. There are few parameters that significantly predict GPs who are unlikely to respond; more of these may be included in the sample, or they may be targeted for special attention. Publicly available data may be used readily in the analysis of non-response bias and generalizability.