Evaluation of strategies for increasing response rates to postal questionnaires in quality control of nasal septal surgery
Abstract Background Postal questionnaires are often used to assess the results of nasal septoplasty, but response rates vary widely. This study assesses strategies designed to increase the response rate. Methods Postoperative questionnaires using visual analogue scales (VAS) for nasal obstruction we...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Research Notes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-017-2516-x |
| _version_ | 1819025300322779136 |
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| author | Merete T. Egeland Magnus Tarangen Olga Shiryaeva Caryl Gay Liv K. Døsen Rolf Haye |
| author_facet | Merete T. Egeland Magnus Tarangen Olga Shiryaeva Caryl Gay Liv K. Døsen Rolf Haye |
| author_sort | Merete T. Egeland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Postal questionnaires are often used to assess the results of nasal septoplasty, but response rates vary widely. This study assesses strategies designed to increase the response rate. Methods Postoperative questionnaires using visual analogue scales (VAS) for nasal obstruction were mailed to 160 consecutive patients alternately allocated to one of two groups. Group A received the questionnaire in the usual manner and group B received a modified cover letter with hand-written name and signature and a hand-stamped return envelope. Results Of the 80 patients in each group, 47 (58.8%) in group A and 54 (67.5%) in group B returned the questionnaire (p = 0.25). There were no age or gender differences between the groups, nor did the pre- and postoperative VAS scores differ between the groups. Conclusion The strategies used in this study increased the response rate to postal questionnaires by 8.7% points, but this was not a statistically significant or clinically meaningful improvement. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T05:08:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-30dada0b7f314a62b72fbd66da5ac8f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-0500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T05:08:29Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Research Notes |
| spelling | doaj.art-30dada0b7f314a62b72fbd66da5ac8f42022-12-21T19:15:08ZengBMCBMC Research Notes1756-05002017-06-011011510.1186/s13104-017-2516-xEvaluation of strategies for increasing response rates to postal questionnaires in quality control of nasal septal surgeryMerete T. Egeland0Magnus Tarangen1Olga Shiryaeva2Caryl Gay3Liv K. Døsen4Rolf Haye5Department of Quality, Lovisenberg Diakonale HospitalDepartment of Quality, Lovisenberg Diakonale HospitalDepartment of Quality, Lovisenberg Diakonale HospitalDepartment of Quality, Lovisenberg Diakonale HospitalDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Lovisenberg Diakonale HospitalDepartment of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Lovisenberg Diakonale HospitalAbstract Background Postal questionnaires are often used to assess the results of nasal septoplasty, but response rates vary widely. This study assesses strategies designed to increase the response rate. Methods Postoperative questionnaires using visual analogue scales (VAS) for nasal obstruction were mailed to 160 consecutive patients alternately allocated to one of two groups. Group A received the questionnaire in the usual manner and group B received a modified cover letter with hand-written name and signature and a hand-stamped return envelope. Results Of the 80 patients in each group, 47 (58.8%) in group A and 54 (67.5%) in group B returned the questionnaire (p = 0.25). There were no age or gender differences between the groups, nor did the pre- and postoperative VAS scores differ between the groups. Conclusion The strategies used in this study increased the response rate to postal questionnaires by 8.7% points, but this was not a statistically significant or clinically meaningful improvement.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-017-2516-xNasal surgical proceduresOutcome assessmentVisual analogue scaleSurveys and questionnaires |
| spellingShingle | Merete T. Egeland Magnus Tarangen Olga Shiryaeva Caryl Gay Liv K. Døsen Rolf Haye Evaluation of strategies for increasing response rates to postal questionnaires in quality control of nasal septal surgery BMC Research Notes Nasal surgical procedures Outcome assessment Visual analogue scale Surveys and questionnaires |
| title | Evaluation of strategies for increasing response rates to postal questionnaires in quality control of nasal septal surgery |
| title_full | Evaluation of strategies for increasing response rates to postal questionnaires in quality control of nasal septal surgery |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of strategies for increasing response rates to postal questionnaires in quality control of nasal septal surgery |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of strategies for increasing response rates to postal questionnaires in quality control of nasal septal surgery |
| title_short | Evaluation of strategies for increasing response rates to postal questionnaires in quality control of nasal septal surgery |
| title_sort | evaluation of strategies for increasing response rates to postal questionnaires in quality control of nasal septal surgery |
| topic | Nasal surgical procedures Outcome assessment Visual analogue scale Surveys and questionnaires |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-017-2516-x |
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