From: Non-response in a survey of physicians on end-of-life care for the elderly
Strategy* | Realised in the study | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | No | |||
Envelope | Logo | √ | ||
P | Postage stamp (if N is small) | Large N | ||
P | Address personally | √ | ||
Cover letter | T | Reliable letter-head/letter-head of the university | √ | |
P | Personal form of address | √ | ||
Explanation of aims of the study | √ | |||
Information about researchers | On demand | |||
T | Ensure anonymity | √ | ||
Name of the researchers/institution | √ | |||
Telephone number | √ | |||
Office hours of the researchers | X | |||
P | Hand-written signature | √ | ||
Not longer than 1 page | √ | |||
Clarify importance of participation | √ | |||
Brief information about results | On demand | |||
Questionnaire | A4, white, tacked | √ | ||
C | Short, not more than 16 pages | √ | ||
T | Easily readable and understandable/blocks of questions | √ | ||
No sociodemographic/precarious questions at the beginning | √ | |||
Preferably closed response format | √ | |||
Preferably no filter questions | √ | |||
Consider rules to formulate questions (e.g. no double negative) | √ | |||
Front page: title, institution, address, contact | √ | |||
Directions on how to fill in the questionnaire | X | |||
At the end: 1/2 page for comments | 1/4 page | |||
Privacy policy | How are data handled? | X | ||
Ensure anonymity | √ | |||
Ensure no disclosure of data | X | |||
Data protection officer involved | √ | |||
Envelope for reply | Return free of charge | √ | ||
Announcement | C | Only if no intensive follow-up | √ | |
Salience | T | Interesting topic | √ | |
Follow-up | F | First dispatch, thank-you note/reminder, second dispatch of questionnaire | √ | |
Recognised authorities | Here: newspaper article, cover letter of National Medical Council | √ | ||
Material incentives | C | Monetary: no delayed incentives | Delayed fixed amount | |
C | Non-monetary (e.g. brochure) | X |