Can lifestyle surveys survive a low response rate?

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2008.05.008

Public Health

Volume 122, Issue 12, December 2008, Pages 1382-1383

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2008.05.008 Get rights and content

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Ethical approval

North Manchester Local Research Ethics Committee, Ref: 05/Q1406/56.

Funding

None declared.

Competing interests

None declared.

References (7)

J. Martin et al.
Responses to declining response rates on government surveys
Soc Surv Methodol Bull
(1999)
H. Tolonen et al.
Effect on trend estimates of the difference between survey respondents and non-respondents: results from 27 populations in the WHO MONICA Project
Eur J Epidemiol
(2005)
T.W. Mangione
The basics of avoiding non response errors

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (16)

A survey of health professionals' views about integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Acupuncture into NHS Scotland
2012, European Journal of Integrative Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
The response rate achieved here represented only half the total potential participants and could have been improved if time had permitted a 3rd mailing. Postal surveys tend to have a lower response rate than other methods [20]. Nevertheless, an acceptable proportion of physiotherapists responded and the study provided some interesting trends.
To gain understanding of perspectives of physiotherapists and doctors regarding experience and practice of acupuncture together with their views on potential for integration of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture (TCMAc) into NHS Scotland.
A cross-sectional postal survey involved 107 physiotherapists, 207 general medical practitioners and 317 other medically qualified personnel working with Forth Valley Health Board in Central Scotland. Enquiry addressed (a) personal experience and clinical usefulness of acupuncture, (b) whether TCMAc services should be integrated into NHS Scotland within defined models of care and practice and (c) willingness to refer to TCMAc services.
An overall 51% response rate (320/631) included 74% (79/107) physiotherapists and 49% (101/207) general medical practitioners (GPs). Physiotherapists were most familiar with acupuncture, followed by GPs. 93% of both physiotherapists and GPs ‘agreed’ that acupuncture was clinically useful. Although few claimed detailed knowledge about TCMAc, 32% (24/76) physiotherapists and 21% (48/231) doctors agreed that it should be integrated into NHS Scotland. Barriers included ‘lack of NHS resources’ and ‘lack of evidence’; 29% (88/307) respondents thought such services could be sited at health centres. ‘Assimilation’ was the preferred working arrangement for physiotherapists, while doctors cited ‘collaboration’. 33–39% of respondents were willing to refer to TCMAc; 7% (7/96) GPs already did so.
Despite strong support for acupuncture per se, significant lack of awareness about TCMAc hampered informed opinion about its integration by the majority. Raising health professionals’ awareness regarding available research evidence is clearly indicated. Nevertheless, opinions reflect potential for integration.
Changes in Norwegian drivers' attitudes towards traffic safety and driver behaviour from 2000 to 2008
2012, Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
Citation Excerpt :
The follow-up study of non-respondents showed no significant differences in the respondents’ characteristics or responses (Iversen & Rundmo, 2004). In addition, other studies show that response rates to surveys are declining (Clark, Khan, & Gupta, 2001; Jowell, Roberts, Fitzgerald, & Eva, 2007; Owen-Smith, Burgess-Allen, Lavelle, & Wilding, 2008). It is accordingly concluded that the two populations of drivers are comparable.
This study explores changes in driver behaviour in traffic and attitudes in Norway over the nine-year period from 2000 to 2008. The results are based on self-completion questionnaire surveys carried out with two independent and representative samples of Norwegian drivers, with data collected in 2000 (n = 2614) and 2008 (n = 1731). The results show that although both attitudes and self-reported behaviour changed significantly, the changes were small to moderate, and all except one were in the direction of greater safety.
Contact with the Workplace during Long-Term Sickness Absence and Worker Expectations of Return to Work
2015, International Journal of Disability Management
Interrelated Factors for Return to Work of Sick-Listed Employees in Sweden
2020, International Journal of Disability Management
Methodological and economic evaluations of seven survey modes applied to health service research
2016, Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research
Treatment of dento-alveolar trauma: Knowledge evaluation from southern Brazilian dentists
2016, Brazilian Journal of Oral Sciences

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Short CommunicationCan lifestyle surveys survive a low response rate?

Section snippets

Ethical approval

Funding

Competing interests

Responses to declining response rates on government surveys

Soc Surv Methodol Bull

Effect on trend estimates of the difference between survey respondents and non-respondents: results from 27 populations in the WHO MONICA Project

Eur J Epidemiol

The basics of avoiding non response errors

Short Communication
Can lifestyle surveys survive a low response rate?