A randomized trial of electronic reminders showed a reduction in the time to respond to postal questionnaires

作者：Ashby Rebecca^*; Turner Gwen; Cross Ben; Mitchell Natasha; Torgerson David

来源：Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 2011, 64(2): 208-212.

DOI：10.1016/j.jclinepi.2010.01.020

• Questionnaires
• Reminder systems
• Randomized controlled trial
• Respondents
• Data collection
• Communication

Objective: To assess the effect of electronic reminders (ERs) on response rate and time to response for the return of postal questionnaires.
Study Design and Setting: This open randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at the University of York. Participants who were taking part in an established RCT and who provided an electronic mail address and/or mobile telephone number were eligible to take part in the study. The intervention group received ERs on the day they were expected to receive postal questionnaires.
Results: One hundred forty-eight participants (19 male and 129 female) aged 47 +/- 11 (range, 19-65) years were studied. About 89.2% of participants returned postal questionnaires. There was no difference in questionnaire response rates in control (64 of 74 [86.5%]) vs. intervention (68 of 74 [91.9%]), groups (relative risk = 1.063, 95% confidence interval: 0.949-1.189). Median questionnaire time to response was 4 days less in the intervention group (10.0 +/- 0.2; range, 10-14 days) compared with the control group (14.0 +/- 1.4; range, 10-23 days) (chi(2)(idr) = 5.27, P = 0.022).
Conclusion: ERs are useful tools for reducing participant time to response for postal questionnaires. We found little evidence for an effect of ERs on response rate for postal questionnaires.

• 出版日期2011-2