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Related Experiment Videos

Surveying general practitioners: a new avenue.

Moyez Jiwa1, Akinoso E Olujimi Coker, John Bagley

  • 1Institute of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Sheffield, UK. moyez@onetel.net.uk

Current Medical Research and Opinion
|March 18, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Questionnaire survey response rates and validity are similar whether delivered by post or at an educational meeting. Educational meetings offer efficiency but may miss part-time general practitioners (GPs).

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Research Methodology
  • General Practice
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Lower response rates in questionnaire surveys can diminish the validity of findings.
  • General practitioners (GPs) are more likely to respond to surveys perceived as relevant and convenient.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the response rates and validity of questionnaire surveys administered via postal mail with reminders versus an educational meeting without reminders.
  • To assess the utility of survey data in predicting patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A Likert scale questionnaire on referral letter content was distributed to GPs via postal mail in one UK locality and at an educational meeting in another.
  • Response rates and demographic characteristics were compared between methods.

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  • Referral letters were scored using schedules derived from each method, and their ability to predict significant organic pathology was evaluated.

    • Main Results:

    • Response rates were similar for both postal and educational meeting survey routes (71% overall).
    • No significant demographic differences were found between respondents and non-respondents.
    • Scores derived from both survey methods equally predicted cases of significant organic pathology.

    Conclusions:

    • Questionnaire surveys yield equally valid results whether administered by post or at an educational meeting.
    • Educational meetings provide efficient data collection but may underrepresent part-time practitioners.
    • Targeted approaches may be needed to include all GP demographics in future surveys.