Etter J F, Perneger T V, Ronchi A
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Am J Epidemiol. 1998 Jan 15;147(2):141-6. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009426.
Collecting saliva samples by mail can serve numerous purposes in epidemiologic research. The objectives of this study were to assess what proportion of participants in a mail survey would provide a saliva sample and whether incentives could improve participation. In 1995, 2,994 students, faculty, and staff members of Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland, were randomized to receive, together with a mailed questionnaire about smoking, a saliva vial, a ballpoint pen, the offer of a lottery, or any combination of these. After one mailing and a reminder letter, response rates were 52% among those who had been requested to provide saliva and 63% among controls (p < 0.001). In the former group, most respondents (98%) provided a saliva sample. Incentives improved participation only among those who were asked to provide saliva (lottery: +11% response, p = 0.003; pen: +6% response, p = 0.1). The final participation, after up to three reminders, was 76% overall. The authors conclude that while the collection of saliva samples by mail is feasible it tends to decrease response rates.
通过邮寄方式收集唾液样本在流行病学研究中可用于多种目的。本研究的目的是评估邮寄调查中参与者提供唾液样本的比例，以及激励措施是否能提高参与率。1995年，瑞士日内瓦大学的2994名学生、教职员工被随机分组，分别收到一份关于吸烟的邮寄问卷、一个唾液瓶、一支圆珠笔、参与抽奖的机会，或这些物品的任意组合。经过一次邮寄和一封提醒信后，被要求提供唾液样本的人群的回复率为52%，对照组的回复率为63%（p<0.001）。在前一组中，大多数受访者（98%）提供了唾液样本。激励措施仅提高了被要求提供唾液样本人群的参与率（抽奖：回复率提高11%，p=0.003；笔：回复率提高6%，p=0.1）。在最多三次提醒后，总体最终参与率为76%。作者得出结论，虽然通过邮寄方式收集唾液样本是可行的，但这往往会降低回复率。
