Enclosing a pen with a postal questionnaire can significantly increase the response rate

Citation

Sharp L, Cochran C, Cotton SC, Gray NM & Gallagher ME (2006) Enclosing a pen with a postal questionnaire can significantly increase the response rate. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 59 (7), pp. 747-754. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2005.10.014

Abstract
Background and Objectives: It is important to maximize response rates to postal questionnaires. We compared the impact of three low-cost interventions on response rates. Methods: A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial trial was conducted, nested within TOMBOLA (Trial Of Management of Borderline and Other Low-grade Abnormal smears). Three interventions were evaluated: (1) enclosing a TOMBOLA-branded pen with the questionnaire (as opposed to no pen); (2) sending the questionnaires by first class post (as opposed to second class); and (3) enclosing a preaddressed return envelope on which there was a second class postage stamp (rather than a freepost business-reply envelope). Nine hundred thirty women, aged 20-59 years, due to receive a TOMBOLA psychosocial questionnaire by post during June-August 2003 were randomized. Results: Enclosing a pen resulted in a statistically significant 7.0% increase in the cumulative proportion of questionnaires returned (from 61.5 to 68.5%; P = .002). The adjusted odds of response was significantly raised (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.82). Neither first class post nor providing a stamped envelope had a significant impact on response. There were no interactions between the interventions. Conclusions: Enclosing a pen with a questionnaire can significantly increase response. This low-cost strategy was effective against a background of "good practice" with regard to the administration of postal questionnaires.

Keywords
Factorial trial; Postal questionnaire; Response rates

Notes
on behalf of the TOMBOLA group

Journal
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology: Volume 59, Issue 7