Nonresponse bias in a mail survey of physicians

被引：83

作者：

McFarlane, Emily

Olmsted, Murrey G.

Murphy, Joe

Hill, Craig A.

机构：

来源：

EVALUATION & THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS | 2007年 / 30卷 / 02期

关键词：

physician survey; response bias; response rate;

D O I：

10.1177/0163278707300632

中图分类号：

R19 [保健组织与事业（卫生事业管理）];

学科分类号：

摘要：

With the increased pressure on survey researchers to achieve high response rates, it is critical to explore issues related to nonresponse. In this study, the authors examined the effects of nonresponse bias in a mail survey of physicians (N = 3,400). Because slightly more than one half of the sample did not respond to the survey, there was potential for bias if nonresponders differed significantly from responders with respect to key demographic and practice variables. They analyzed response status and timing of response with respect to five variables: gender, region, specialty, urbanicity, and survey length. The potential consequences of nonresponse bias on the survey estimates were then analyzed. Men were more likely to respond, as were physicians receiving a shorter questionnaire. Repeated follow-up attempts reduced gender response bias because male physicians were more likely to be early responders. Overall, higher response rates were not associated with lower response bias. © 2007 Sage Publications.

引用

页码：170 / 185

页数：16

共 14 条

[1]

Standard definitions: Final disposition of case codes and outcome rates for surveys, (2004)

[2]

Asch D.A., Christakis N.A., Ubel P.A., Conducting physician mail surveys on a limited budget: A randomized trial comparing $2 bill versus $5 bill incentives, Medical Care, 36, 1, pp. 95-99, (1998)

[3]

Asch D.A., Jedrziewski M.K., Christakis N.A., Response rates to mail surveys published in medical journals. Journal of, Clinical Epidemiology, 50, pp. 1129-1136, (1997)

[4]

Barton J., Bain C., Hennekens C.H., Rosner B., Belanger C., Roth A., Characteristics of respondents and nonrespondents to a mailed questionnaire, American Journal of Public Health, 70, pp. 823-825, (1980)

[5]

Biemer P., Lyberg L., Introduction to survey quality, (2003)

[6]

Cull W., O'Connor K.G., Sharp S., Tang S.S., Response rates and response bias for 50 surveys of pediatricians, Health Services Research, 40, pp. 213-225, (2005)

[7]

Guadagnoli E., Cunningham S., The effects of nonresponse and late response on a survey of physician attitudes, Evaluation and the Health Professions, 12, pp. 318-328, (1989)

[8]

Kellerman S.E., Herold J., Physician response to surveys: A review of the literature, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 20, pp. 61-67, (2001)

[9]

McCarthy G.M., Koval J.J., MacDonald J.K., Nonresponse bias in a survey of Ontario dentists' infection control and attitudes concerning HIV, Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 57, pp. 59-62, (1997)

[10]

Olmsted M.G., McFarlane E.M., Murphy J., Factors influencing response to a physician survey, (2006)

← 1 2 →