Jonathan B. VanGeest

Methodologies for Improving Response Rates in Surveys of Physicians: A Systematic Review

Although physician surveys are an important tool in health services and policy research, they are often characterized by low response rates. The authors conducted a systematic review of 66 published reports of efforts to improve response rates to physician surveys. Two general strategies were explored in this literature: incentive and design-based approaches. Even small financial incentives were found to be effective in improving physician response. Token nonmonetary incentives were much less effective. In terms of design strategies, postal and telephone strategies have generally been more successful than have fax or Web-based approaches, with evidence also supporting use of mixed-mode surveys in this population. In addition, use of first-class stamps on return envelopes and questionnaires designed to be brief, personalized, and endorsed by legitimizing professional associations were also more likely to be successful. Researchers should continue to implement design strategies that have been documented to improve the survey response of physicians.

The use of human patient simulators: best practices with novice nursing students.

Only recently have nursing educators begun to consider the enormous implications of using high-fidelity human patient simulation in general nursing education. As a first step in exploring the potential of this new technology with novice nursing students, faculty conducted a quantitative and qualitative analysis of students reactions to a simulation. In addition, from the analysis and the review of literature, the faculty identified specific best practices for using this educational methodology with novice nursing students.

Enhancing Surveys of Health Care Professionals A Meta-Analysis of Techniques to Improve Response

Surveys involving health care providers are characterized by low and declining response rates (RRs), and researchers have utilized various strategies to increase survey RRs among health professionals. Based on 48 studies with 156 subgroups of within-study conditions, a multilevel meta-regression analysis was conducted to summarize the effects of different strategies employed in surveys of health professionals. An estimated overall survey RR among health professionals was 0.53 with a significant downward trend during the last half century. Of the variables that were examined, mode of data collection, incentives, and number of follow-up attempts were all found to be significantly related to RR. The mail survey mode was more effective in improving RR, compared to the online or web survey mode. Relative to the non-incentive subgroups, subgroups receiving monetary incentives were more likely to respond, while nonmonetary incentive groups were not significantly different from non-incentive groups. When number of follow-ups was considered, the one or two attempts of follow-up were found to be effective in increasing survey RR among health professionals. Having noted challenges associated with surveying health professionals, researchers must make every effort to improve access to their target population by implementing appropriate incentive- and design-based strategies demonstrated to improve participation rates.

MIGRATION AND SUBSTANCE USE: EVIDENCE FROM THE U.S. NATIONAL HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEY*

Representative data from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey are used to investigate the substance use patterns of immigrants and compare them to those of the native born populations. The information examined is from the 1991 supplementary Drug and Alcohol Use Data File, which examined the self-reported substance use behaviors of approximately 21,000 adults aged 18–44. Findings indicate that immigrants to the U.S. in the late twentieth century are less likely to use alcohol and other drugs than are native born citizens. Additional findings suggest assimilation processes by which exposure to mainstream American society leads to patterns of alcohol and illicit drug use among long term immigrants that approximates that of the native born population. The patterns of substance use observed among immigrants, however, are not consistent with acculturative stress mechanisms. These findings provide an important and representative profile of the substance use patterns of one of the largest international migration streams of the past one hundred years.

Effects of different monetary incentives on the return rate of a national mail survey of physicians.

Background.Mail surveys of physicians have been characterized by lower response rates than general population surveys, raising concerns about nonresponse bias. Although monetary incentives have routinely been used to improve survey response among physicians, questions remain regarding how much of an incentive is most cost-effective. The present study seeks to further examine the effects of incentive size on response rates to a national mail survey of physicians. Methods.This study used a random sample of 873 physicians practicing in the United States; the response rate was 65% (n = 563). Respondents were randomly assigned to receive a

Surveying Nurses: Identifying Strategies to Improve Participation

5,

Substance Abuse and Homelessness: Direct or Indirect Effects?

10, or

Patients' Perceptions of Screening for Health Literacy: Reactions to the Newest Vital Sign

20 cash incentive in the initial mailing. Except for the magnitude of the incentive, the procedures for each condition were identical, with each respondent receiving up to 3 follow-up mailings and 2 telephone calls. Results.Overall response rates ranged from 60.3% for the

Time, Costs, and Clinical Utilization of Screening for Health Literacy: A Case Study Using the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) Instrument

5 incentive category to 68.0% for the

Process evaluation of an educational intervention to improve end-of-life care: The Education for Physicians on End-of-Life Care (EPEC) Program

10 incentive category. Differences in overall response rates across the incentive categories, however, were not significant. Higher levels of incentives also did not significantly reduce the number of mail and/or telephone interventions required to reach the target response rate of 60.0%. As expected, aggregate costs (excluding labor) were lowest for the