POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES

1. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership Questions? Comments? Send us an email! u54.ssmc@gmail.com

2. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership Improving Response Rates Ruth Lederman, MPH Statistical and Data Management Core Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

3. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership What influences response rates? • Literature Review – 2011 re: Physician Response Rates • Web vs. mailed surveys • Double-sided vs. single sided paper • Questionnaire length • Order of different modes (web followed by paper and vise versa) • Incentives – amount, type, timing • Use of cover letters and whether they were personalized

4. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership What influences response rates? • Literature Review – 2011 re: Physician Response Rates • Summary – Higher response rates achieved by using: • Mailed surveys • Monetary incentive sent with initial survey mailing • Personalized cover letters

5. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership Examples of recent DFCI SDMC response rates

6. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership Key Considerations for Survey Group/Study Team/PI • List preparation • Survey delivery • Incentives • Follow-up

7. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership List Preparation • Work with PI to understand the population • Clean the sample list • Valid postal address, telephone, email address • Sources: Board of Registration in Medicine (MA) • FedEx • Consider eligibility criteria • Document methods • Maintain consistency in methods used

8. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership Survey Delivery - Methods • FedEx • US Postal Service • Email • Group administration • Fax • Phone

9. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership Survey Delivery – Factors to Consider • Population being surveyed • Cost • Ability to deliver professional appearing materials • Use of logos • Inclusion of familiar names on correspondence

10. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership Incentives • Timing - upfront vs. after survey completion • Cost – budget considerations • Amount – need to consider survey population • Type (cash, gift card, other) • Investigator input crucial

11. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership Follow up • Multiple waves • Cost/budget considerations • Timing • IRB considerations • Varied modalities • Phone call follow up • Labor intensive • Time consuming • Effective

12. POPULATION RESEARCH SEMINAR SERIES Sponsored by the Statistics and Survey Methods Core of the U54 Partnership Questions? Comments? Send us an email! u54.ssmc@gmail.com