Effect of survey instrument on participation in a follow-up study: a randomization study of a mailed questionnaire versus a computer-assisted telephone interview

Abstract

BackgroundMany epidemiological and public health surveys report increasing difficulty obtaining high participation rates. We conducted a pilot follow-up study to determine whether a mailed or telephone survey would better facilitate data collection in a subset of respondents to an earlier telephone survey conducted as part of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.MethodsWe randomly assigned 392 eligible mothers to receive a self-administered, mailed questionnaire (MQ) or a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) using similar recruitment protocols. If mothers gave permission to contact the fathers, fathers were recruited to complete the same instrument (MQ or CATI) as mothers.ResultsMothers contacted for the MQ, within all demographic strata examined, were more likely to participate than those contacted for the CATI (86.6% vs. 70.6%). The median response time for mothers completing the MQ was 17 days, compared to 29 days for mothers completing the CATI. Mothers completing the MQ also required fewer reminder calls or letters to finish participation versus those assigned to the CATI (median 3 versus 6), though they were less likely to give permission to contact the father (75.0% vs. 85.8%). Fathers contacted for the MQ, however, had higher participation compared to fathers contacted for the CATI (85.2% vs. 54.5%). Fathers recruited to the MQ also had a shorter response time (median 17 days) and required fewer reminder calls and letters (median 3 reminders) than those completing the CATI (medians 28 days and 6 reminders).ConclusionsWe concluded that offering a MQ substantially improved participation rates and reduced recruitment effort compared to a CATI in this study. While a CATI has the advantage of being able to clarify answers to complex questions or eligibility requirements, our experience suggests that a MQ might be a good survey option for some studies.

Pressão laboral, saúde e condições de trabalho dos professores da Educação Básica no Brasil

“…From October 2015 to March 2016, the research team in the Educatel Study randomly selected a group of schoolteachers to be interviewed by telephone, either while they were at school or at home, via prior scheduling. Training for the interviewers reinforced the necessary communications skills and attributes to guarantee safety and tranquility for the interviewees, avoid embarrassments, and deal with any distrust or suspicion that might arise in this type of survey 16 . The questions were read by the interviewer from a computer screen, which recorded the answers in digital format in real time so as to feed them continuously into the database.…”

Antimicrobial use and stewardship practices on Australian beef feedlots

“…To collect data on antimicrobial use and stewardship practices on feedlots, the questionnaire used in this study was lengthy, complex and sought information that may be perceived as sensitive. Previous studies have demonstrated that respondents are more likely to disclose sensitive information in anonymous mailed questionnaires than in other survey methods . However, the length and complexity of a questionnaire are also known to substantially influence the response rate by creating a cognitive burden on potential respondents.…”

Hipóteses, delineamento e instrumentos do Estudo Educatel, Brasil, 2015/2016

“…The supervisor monitored the quality of the interviews by listening to the recordings and identifying tendencies, lapses, etc., which (when identified) were corrected immediately to decrease the measurement bias. Selection and training of the interviewers before the data collection began emphasized the importance of empathy, listening skills, capacity to answer the teacher's doubts without generating insecurity in communicating the survey's objectives 40 .…”