Response Audit of an Internet Survey of Health Care Providers
Author Information
Author(s): Gunther Eysenbach, H VanDenKerkhof, Peter Hoonakker, Tomi Lintonen, Mark J Dobrow, Margo C Orchard, Brian Golden, Eric Holowaty, Lawrence Paszat, Adalsteinn D Brown, Terrence Sullivan
Primary Institution: Cancer Care Ontario
Hypothesis
What factors influence response rates for Internet surveys among health care providers?
Conclusion
The response rates for Internet surveys can vary significantly based on how the numerator and denominator are defined.
Supporting Evidence
- The survey was sent to over 5000 cancer care providers and administrators.
- Response rates varied from 27.3% to 39.8% based on different assumptions.
- The study highlighted the importance of clear reporting on Internet survey methods.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many health care providers responded to an online survey and found that the way we count responses can change the results a lot.
Methodology
The study audited survey response data and conducted a sensitivity analysis to assess factors affecting response rates.
Potential Biases
Potential for duplicate responses and uncertainty in determining the true number of respondents due to email forwarding and spam filters.
Limitations
The study's findings are based on a specific Internet survey vendor and may not generalize to all Internet surveys.
Participant Demographics
Health care providers and administrators in Ontario, Canada.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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