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Methods for the design and administration of web-based surveys.
1Department of Dental Informatics, Temple University School of Dentistry, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. di@dental.temple.edu
Summary
Web-based surveys offer a cost-effective and efficient method for collecting data from professionals. This study demonstrates their effectiveness in dental practice research, reducing costs by 38% compared to traditional mail surveys.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Dental Public Health
- Survey Methodology
Background:
- The integration of the Internet into clinical practice is transforming healthcare delivery.
- Efficient data collection methods are crucial for understanding professional practices and needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design, develop, and administer a Web-based survey to assess Internet usage among dental professionals.
- To compare the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Web-based surveys against traditional mail surveys.
Main Methods:
- A hybrid approach combining controlled mail survey principles with a Web-based database application was employed.
- The survey was implemented using HTML pages and tested across various operating environments.
- Data were collected from 450 dental professionals, achieving a 74.2% response rate.
Main Results:
- Eighty-four percent of participants completed the survey online, with 16% utilizing e-mail or fax.
- Identified challenges included technical incompatibilities, usability issues, and a programming error.
- The Web-based survey demonstrated a 38% cost reduction compared to an equivalent mail survey.
Conclusions:
- Web-based surveys offer significant reductions in turnaround time and cost compared to mail surveys.
- This methodology can potentially enhance survey item completion rates.
- A formula for calculating breakeven points between electronic and hardcopy surveys is provided.