Enhancing response rates to a smoking survey for enlisted US navy women

This study examines the effectiveness of a stepped approach for increasing response rates to a mailed follow-up smoking survey among newly enlisted women in the navy. The effect of the steppes approach on response rates and on the characteristics of respondents was evaluated. Also, costs were estimated for each of the steps to determine their relative benefits Results showed that the stepped approach was effective in more than doubling the survey response rate among smokers. Reluctant respondents did not differ from on-time respondents in of demographics or baseline smoking, although nonrespondents ware less educated and heavier smokers than on-time and reluctant respondents. Strategies documented here could well apply to survey efforts with other hard-to-reach populations.