A guide for the design and conduct of self-administered surveys of clinicians

Burns, Karen E. A.; Duffett, Mark; Kho, Michelle E.; Meade, Maureen O.; Adhikari, Neill K. J.; Sinuff, T; Cook, Deborah J.

doi:10.1503/cmaj.080372

Cited by 1,056 publications

(971 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…[41][42][43] It is also close to the mean response rate of 54% reported by a systematic review of physician postal surveys. 32,35 Our rigorous methodological approach, including key informant interviews, cognitive interviews, pilottesting, short and concise questionnaires with incentives to half of the physicians, and a special contact, optimized our response rate and yielded very few missing data.…”

Section: Respondentssupporting

confidence: 73%

National Survey of Emergency Physicians to Define Functional Decline in Elderly Patients with Minor Trauma

Abdulaziz

Brehaut

Taljaard

et al. 2015

CJEM

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Background: There are a number of screening tools to predict return to the emergency department (ED) in elderly trauma patients, but none exist to specifically screen for functional decline after a minor injury. The objective of this study was to identify outcome measures for a possible future clinical decision rule to be used in the ED to identify previously independent patients at high risk of functional decline at six months post minor injury. Methods: After a rigorous development process, a survey instrument was administered to a random sample of 178 emergency physicians using the Dillman's Tailored Design Method. Results: Of 156 eligible surveys, we received 81 completed surveys (response rate 51.9%). Considering all 14 activities of daily living (ADL) items, 90% of physicians deemed a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in function to be at least three points on the 28-point Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) ADL Scale as clinically significant. A tool with a sensitivity of 93% to detect patients at risk of functional decline at six months post injury would meet or exceed the sensitivity deemed to be required by 90% of physicians. The majority of emergency physicians do not assess elderly injured patients for the majority of the tasks. Conclusions: A drop of three points on the 28-point OARS ADL Scale would be deemed clinically important by the vast majority of emergency physicians. Further, a sensitivity of 93% for a clinical decision tool would satisfy the MCID requirements of the vast majority of emergency physicians. There appears to be a gap between physician knowledge and actual practice. We intend to use these findings in the development of a clinical decision rule to identify high-risk elderly trauma patients.

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Section: Respondentssupporting

confidence: 73%

National Survey of Emergency Physicians to Define Functional Decline in Elderly Patients with Minor Trauma

Abdulaziz

Brehaut

Taljaard

et al. 2015

CJEM

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“…A group of seven anesthesiologists not involved in the development of the questionnaire completed the assessment using an adaptation of a structured instrument developed by Burns et al for this purpose. 21 As a result of this process, we made changes to the original instrument to improve clarity. …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug shortages in Canadian anesthesia: a national survey

Hall

Bryson

Flowerdew

et al. 2013

Can J Anesth/J Can Anesth

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Background Canadian physicians are faced with an increasing frequency of drug shortages. We hypothesized that drug shortages have a clinical impact on anesthesia care in Canada. Methods We conducted a self-administered survey of anesthesiologists in Canada using the membership list of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society. For survey development, we identified key domains, including types of drug shortages, impact on the ability of anesthesia practitioners to provide general anesthesia care, and impact on patient outcomes. We undertook assessments of face validity, clinical sensibility, and content validity. Respondents were surveyed from January-April 2012. Results Completed valid questionnaires were submitted by 1,187 respondents (61.4%), and 779 (65.7%) of respondents described a shortage of one or more anesthesia or critical care drugs. Changes in anesthesia practice resulting from drug shortages were common; 586 (49%) respondents thought they had given an inferior anesthetic, and 361 (30%) reported administering medications with which they were unfamiliar. Respondents also reported that drug shortages were, at times, responsible for changes in the conduct of patient care, with 28 (2.4%) noting cancellation or postponement of surgery and 92 (7.8%) witnessing a drug error. One hundred sixty-five (13.9%) respondents regarded drug shortages as having prolonged recovery from anesthesia, and 124 (10.5%) viewed drug shortages as resulting in an increased number of postoperative complications, such as postoperative nausea and vomiting. Interpretation Drug shortages are common in anesthetic practice in Canada. This state of affairs may have a negative effect on how anesthesiologists practice anesthesia and may be associated with adverse patient outcomes. 123Can J Anesth/J Can Anesth (2013) 60:539-551 DOI 10.1007/s12630-013-9920-z Résumé Contexte Les me´decins canadiens font de plus en plus souvent face a`des pe´nuries de me´dicaments. Nous avons e´mis l'hypothe`se que les pe´nuries de me´dicaments avaient un impact sur les soins en anesthe´sie au Canada. Méthode Nous avons re´alise´un sondage auto-administreá upre`s des anesthe´siologistes au Canada en nous fondant sur la liste des membres de la Socie´te´canadienne des anesthe´siologistes. Lors de la mise au point du sondage, nous avons de´termine´des domaines cle´s, notamment les types de pe´nuries de me´dicaments, l'impact sur la capacite´des fournisseurs d'anesthe´sie a`offrir des soins d'anesthe´sie ge´ne´rale, et l'impact sur les devenirs des patients. Nous avons e´value´la validite´apparente, la sensibilite´clinique, et la validited u contenu. Les re´pondants ont reçu le sondage entre janvier et avril 2012. Résultats Au total, 1187 (61,4 %) re´pondants ont comple´ted es questionnaires de façon valable, et 779 (65,7 %) de ces re´pondants ont de´crit une pe´nurie d'un me´dicament ou plus utilise´en anesthe´sie ou en soins critiques. Les changements dans la pratique de l'anesthe´sie dus a`des pe´nuries de me´dicaments e´taient courants; 586 (49 %) re´...

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“…Prior to distribution, the questionnaire was pilot tested for clarity and appropriateness by 10 emergency physicians and members of the Concussions Ontario: Diagnosis and Early Education working group (which included allied health and physician representatives) and revised as necessary. 34 All reviewers were excluded from the participant population.…”

Section: Instrument Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canadian pediatric emergency physician knowledge of concussion diagnosis and initial management

Zemek

Eady

Farion

et al. 2015

CJEM

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Introduction: The diagnosis of concussion is a critical step in the appropriate management of patients following minor head trauma. The authors hypothesized that wide practice variation exists among pediatric emergency medicine physicians in the application of physical and cognitive rest recommendations following an acute concussion. Methods: The authors developed a 35-item questionnaire incorporating case vignettes to examine pediatric emergency physician knowledge of concussion diagnosis, understanding of initial management using return-to-play/school/work guidelines, use of existing concussion protocols, and perceived barriers to protocol use. Using a modified Dillman technique, the authors distributed an online survey to members of Pediatric Emergency Research Canada, a national association of pediatric emergency physicians. Results: Of 176 potential participants, 115 (65%) responded to the questionnaire, 89% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81, 0.93) of whom reported having diagnosed 20 or more concussions annually. Although 90% (95% CI: 0.83, 0.94) of respondents adequately diagnosed concussion, only 64% (95% CI: 0.54, 0.72) correctly applied graduated return-to-play guidelines. Cognitive rest recommendations were also frequently limited: 40% (95% CI: 0.31, 0.49) did not recommend school absence, 30% (95% CI: 0.22, 0.39) did not recommend schoolwork reduction, and 35% (95% CI: 0.27, 0.45) did not recommend limiting screen time. Eighty percent (95% CI: 0.72, 0.87) of respondents reported having used guidelines frequently or always to guide clinical decisions regarding concussion. Conclusion: Despite a proficiency in the diagnosis of concussion, pediatric emergency physicians exhibit wide variation in recommending the graduated return to play and cognitive rest following concussion.

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A guide for the design and conduct of self-administered surveys of clinicians

Cited by 1,056 publications

References 41 publications

National Survey of Emergency Physicians to Define Functional Decline in Elderly Patients with Minor Trauma

National Survey of Emergency Physicians to Define Functional Decline in Elderly Patients with Minor Trauma

Drug shortages in Canadian anesthesia: a national survey

Canadian pediatric emergency physician knowledge of concussion diagnosis and initial management

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