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Clinical Trial
. 2001:1:12.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2288-1-12. Epub 2001 Dec 17.

Effect of paper quality on the response rate to a postal survey: a randomised controlled trial. ISRCTN 32032031

T J Clark  1 , K S Khan, J K Gupta
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Effect of paper quality on the response rate to a postal survey: a randomised controlled trial. ISRCTN 32032031

T J Clark et al. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2001.

Abstract

Background: Response rates to surveys are declining and this threatens the validity and generalisability of their findings. We wanted to determine whether paper quality influences the response rate to postal surveys

Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to all members of the British Society of Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE). Recipients were randomised to receiving the questionnaire printed on standard quality paper or high quality paper.

Results: The response rate for the recipients of high quality paper was 43/195 (22%) and 57/194 (29%) for standard quality paper (relative rate of response 0.75, 95% CI 0.33-1.05, p = 0.1

Conclusion: The use of high quality paper did not increase response rates to a questionnaire survey of gynaecologists affiliated to an endoscopic society.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram showing randomisation and response rates of the survey
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Moher D, Schulz KF, Altman DG, for the CONSORT Group The CONSORT statement: revised recommendations for improving the quality of reports of parallel-group randomised trials. Lancet. 2001;357:1191–1194. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04337-3. - DOI - PubMed

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