Introductory postcards: do they increase response rate in a telephone survey of older persons?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess whether contact by mail via an introductory postcard would increase the response rate to a telephone survey in a selected population of 348 people 60 years and older. Of this group, 208 were sent a postcard introducing the study and informing them that someone would call in the next 1-2 weeks to conduct a telephone interview. The remaining sample of 140 did not receive the introductory postcard. Amongst the potential participants who were contacted and able to participate (n = 240), the response rate for completed interview was 58.0% for those sent a postcard and 42.3% for those who were not. The refusal rate was 25.3% (postcard sent) and 37.2% (not sent a postcard). When the outcome of contact is collapsed to two categories, 'agreed to participate' and 'refusal', the response rate to participate was 73.5% (sent a postcard) and 59.0% (not sent a postcard) (chi(2) 5.14, d.f. 1, sign. 0.023). The response rate amongst those who recall being sent a postcard rose to 86.0%. Whether agreeing to participate or refusing to be involved in the survey was dependent on being sent an introductory postcard. The conclusion is that mailing a postcard prior to the first telephone contact increases the participation rates of older persons in a telephone survey at very little extra cost (A$0.60 per person).

Targeting Relatives of Patients With Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: The Help the Family Glaucoma Project

“…This response rate is similar to other telephone surveys in older adults. 15 The response rate for completed interview was 58% for those sent a postcard and 42% for those who were not. We had few refusals, and most failed contacts occurred due to inaccurate telephone numbers.…”

Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI): using the telephone for obtaining information on reproductive health

“…The validity of this method of collecting data needs a Table 2 Outcomes of each attempt at phone contact. high rate of response to truly represent the studied population, therefore it is important to use recruitment methods that are easily reproducible 8,9,16,17 . In our study the telephone strategy reached more than 60% of the eligible women, and the interview was carried out with 57.5% of them.…”

“…Despite the fact that telephone coverage in Brazil has improved considerably over the last five years all over the country 13 , the possibility of retaining the same number while changing operators has only been from the last year and changes in telephone numbers were frequent before that, which could have interfered with the contact rate. Possibly the rate of success could be higher at a very little extra cost if an introductory postcard would have been mailed for all eligible women before the phone contact 9,16 .…”

Survey of Older Drivers' Experiences with Florida's Mandatory Vision Re-Screening Law for Licensure

“…The population for this study was individuals ages 80 and older with valid Florida driver's licenses that were scheduled to expire (unless renewed) between January 1, 2004 and June 30,2005 (N = 181,899). A list of these individuals was obtained from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor or Vehicles (FDHSMV).…”