Background: A study was designed to investigate the factors affecting primary care clinicians' provision of patient risk assessment for STDs, STD prevention counseling, and offering STD testing. A survey to measure opinions, attitudes and behavior among family physicians, general internists, Ob/Gyns, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives required high response.
Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 84 clinicians from all 5 specialties. Content analysis resulted in development of a comprehensive 41 page questionnaire. The survey presentation and cover letters were designed with clinician advice. An advance mailing was sent to 1,094 clinicians to confirm addresses and eligibility. The survey was sent to 1,020 clinicians via Federal Express with $50 cash enclosed. A reminder postcard was sent 10 days later, and a second survey was sent to non-responders 3 weeks after the initial mailing.
Results: 430 clinicians responded to the advance mailing with 33 providing corrected mailing addresses, and 74 were identified as ineligible or unreachable. Of the 1,020 surveys sent, 695 completed the survey and 81 were ineligible or unreachable, for an adjusted response rate of 74%. Response rates differed by specialty with highest response among nurse practitioners (86%) and lowest among Ob/gyns (63%).
Conclusions: High response rate to a 41-page survey can be obtained from practicing clinicians with only two mailings. This requires the design of a relevant questionnaire, careful design of the survey packet and cover letter, provision of an adequate cash incentive, and delivery via a method that will get the survey directly to the clinician.
Learning Objectives: To learn about methods to maximize survey response rates among clinicians
Keywords: Methodology, Providers
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: NIH grant