Funkhouser Ellen, Mungia Rahma, Laws Reesa, Nyongesa Denis B, Gillespie Suzanne, Leo Michael C, McBurnie Mary Ann, Gilbert Gregg H
University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
The University of Texas Health San Antonio, USA.
Eval Health Prof. 2025 Jun;48(2):242-255. doi: 10.1177/01632787241259186. Epub 2024 Jun 6.
Surveys of health professionals typically have low response rates, which have decreased in recent years. We report on the methods used, participation rates, and study time for 11 national questionnaire studies of dentists conducted from 2014-2022. Participation rates decreased (87%-25%). Concurrent with this decrease was a decrease in the intensity with which the practitioners were recruited. Participation rates were higher when postal mail invitation and paper options were used (84% vs. 58%, < .001). Completion rates were nearly twice as high in studies that recruited in waves than those that did not (61% vs. 35%, = .003). Study time varied from 2.6 to 28.4 weeks. Study time was longest when postal mail and completion on paper were used (26.0 vs. 11.3 weeks, = .01). Among studies using only online methods, study time was longer when invitations were staggered than when all invitations went out in one bolus (means 12.0 and 5.2, = .04). Study time was positively correlated with participation rates (Spearman r = .80, = .005). General dentists participated at an average of 12% higher rates than specialists. Recruitment methodology, such as recruiting in waves or stages, should be considered when designing surveys.
对卫生专业人员的调查通常回复率较低，且近年来呈下降趋势。我们报告了2014年至2022年期间针对牙医开展的11项全国性问卷调查研究的方法、参与率和研究时间。参与率有所下降（从87%降至25%）。与此同时，招募从业者的力度也有所降低。使用邮寄邀请和纸质选项时参与率更高（84%对58%，<.001）。分阶段招募的研究完成率几乎是不分阶段招募的研究的两倍（61%对35%，=.003）。研究时间从2.6周到28.4周不等。使用邮寄和纸质完成方式时研究时间最长（26.0周对11.3周，=.01）。在仅使用在线方法的研究中，邀请错开发出时的研究时间比一次性全部发出邀请时更长（平均分别为12.0和5.2，=.04）。研究时间与参与率呈正相关（斯皮尔曼r=.80，=.005）。普通牙医的参与率平均比专科医生高12%。设计调查时应考虑招募方法，如分阶段或分步骤招募。
