Po-Huang Chyou1, Dixie Schroeder2, Kelsey Schwei2, Amit Acharya2. 1. Biomedical Informatics Research Center at Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA chyou.po-huang@mcrf.mfldclin.edu. 2. Center for Oral and Systemic Health, Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To effectively achieve a robust survey response rate in a timely manner, an alternative approach to survey distribution, informed by statistical modeling, was applied to efficiently and cost-effectively achieve the targeted rate of return. DESIGN: A prospective environmental scan surveying adoption of health information technology utilization within their practices was undertaken in a national pool of dental professionals (N=8000) using an alternative method of sampling. The piloted approach to rate of cohort sampling targeted a response rate of 400 completed surveys from among randomly targeted eligible providers who were contacted using replicated subsampling leveraging mailed surveys. METHODS: Two replicated subsample mailings (n=1000 surveys/mailings) were undertaken to project the true response rate and estimate the total number of surveys required to achieve the final target. Cost effectiveness and non-response bias analyses were performed. RESULTS: The final mailing required approximately 24% fewer mailings compared to targeting of the entire cohort, with a final survey capture exceeding the expected target. An estimated $5000 in cost savings was projected by applying the alternative approach. Non-response analyses found no evidence of bias relative to demographics, practice demographics, or topically-related survey questions. CONCLUSION: The outcome of this pilot study suggests that this approach to survey studies will accomplish targeted enrollment in a cost effective manner. Future studies are needed to validate this approach in the context of other survey studies.
OBJECTIVE: To effectively achieve a robust survey response rate in a timely manner, an alternative approach to survey distribution, informed by statistical modeling, was applied to efficiently and cost-effectively achieve the targeted rate of return. DESIGN: A prospective environmental scan surveying adoption of health information technology utilization within their practices was undertaken in a national pool of dental professionals (N=8000) using an alternative method of sampling. The piloted approach to rate of cohort sampling targeted a response rate of 400 completed surveys from among randomly targeted eligible providers who were contacted using replicated subsampling leveraging mailed surveys. METHODS: Two replicated subsample mailings (n=1000 surveys/mailings) were undertaken to project the true response rate and estimate the total number of surveys required to achieve the final target. Cost effectiveness and non-response bias analyses were performed. RESULTS: The final mailing required approximately 24% fewer mailings compared to targeting of the entire cohort, with a final survey capture exceeding the expected target. An estimated $5000 in cost savings was projected by applying the alternative approach. Non-response analyses found no evidence of bias relative to demographics, practice demographics, or topically-related survey questions. CONCLUSION: The outcome of this pilot study suggests that this approach to survey studies will accomplish targeted enrollment in a cost effective manner. Future studies are needed to validate this approach in the context of other survey studies.
Authors: Carmen Lauber; Saranjeev S Lalh; Michael Grace; Miller Hayden Smith; Kevin MacDougall; Paul West; Sean Compton Journal: J Can Dent Assoc Date: 2007-04 Impact factor: 1.316
Authors: Carol Bennett; Sara Khangura; Jamie C Brehaut; Ian D Graham; David Moher; Beth K Potter; Jeremy M Grimshaw Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2011-08-02 Impact factor: 11.069