Perini Family Survivors' Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Perini Family Survivors' Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
J Geriatr Oncol. 2014 Apr;5(2):127-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jgo.2013.11.005. Epub 2013 Dec 17.
Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer become long-term survivors, but are at risk for medical late-effects that can affect their long-term health. Mailed surveys are well suited to study late-effects in this population, but low response rates can compromise survey validity. This study investigated whether an unconditional $5.00 gift certificate incentive or Priority Mail delivery increased prostate cancer survivors' response to mailed surveys.
976 participants (mean age = 66.8 years), 2-8 years post-diagnosis, were randomized to one of four groups: Incentive; Priority Mail; Incentive & Priority Mail; or Control. After an introductory letter, initial study packets were mailed based on randomization; 46 days later, a second study packet was mailed to all non-responders by First-Class Mail.
The first mailing yielded a significant variation in response rates across groups (χ(2) = 9.34; p = 0.025). Priority Mail (64.7%; p = 0.008) and Incentive & Priority Mail (63.6%; p = 0.016) groups had significantly higher response rates than Controls (52.9%). After the second mailing, the overall response rate increased significantly from 59.6% to 71.4% (p < 0.001); however, response rates no longer differed across groups (range, 69.3% [Incentive group] to 73.9% [Priority Mail group]).
Long-term prostate cancer survivors' response rates to mailed surveys increased with the use of Priority Mail and a repeat survey mailing, but the unconditional gift certificate incentive was not supported in this population. By identifying and applying specialized survey methods, studies targeting survivors of prostate cancer and other geriatric cancers may improve response rates, thus limiting a source of potential bias.
大多数被诊断患有前列腺癌的男性都成为了长期幸存者，但他们有患医疗迟发性效应的风险，这可能会影响他们的长期健康。邮寄调查非常适合研究这一人群的迟发性效应，但低应答率可能会影响调查的有效性。本研究旨在调查无条件的 5 美元礼品券激励或优先邮件投递是否能提高前列腺癌幸存者对邮寄调查的反应。
976 名参与者（平均年龄=66.8 岁），诊断后 2-8 年，随机分为四组：激励组；优先邮件组；激励和优先邮件组；或对照组。在一封介绍性信件之后，根据随机分组邮寄了初始研究包；46 天后，所有未回复者通过平邮再次邮寄了第二份研究包。
第一次邮寄的应答率在各组之间存在显著差异（χ²=9.34；p=0.025）。优先邮件（64.7%；p=0.008）和激励和优先邮件（63.6%；p=0.016）组的应答率明显高于对照组（52.9%）。第二次邮寄后，总应答率从 59.6%显著增加到 71.4%（p<0.001）；然而，各组之间的应答率不再有差异（范围，激励组为 69.3%至优先邮件组 73.9%）。
使用优先邮件和重复调查邮寄可以提高长期前列腺癌幸存者对邮寄调查的应答率，但在这一人群中，无条件的礼品券激励并不支持。通过识别和应用专门的调查方法，针对前列腺癌和其他老年癌症幸存者的研究可以提高应答率，从而减少潜在偏倚的来源。
