Differential Electronic Survey Response: Does Survey Fatigue Affect Everyone Equally?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Research
• Survey Methodology
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Survey fatigue, characterized by decreased respondent interest, can compromise study validity.
• The COVID-19 pandemic increased reliance on electronic surveys, often with diminished response rates.
• The impact of survey fatigue on surgical education stakeholders remains largely unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess differences in electronic survey response rates among medical students, surgery residents, and surgery faculty.
• To identify potential factors contributing to survey fatigue within these distinct groups.
• To inform strategies for enhancing survey participation and data quality in surgical education.

Main Methods:

• Electronic surveys on surgical clerkship educational environment distributed to third-year medical students, residents, and faculty across three institutions.
• Response rates were compared using chi-square analysis.
• Demographic data of respondents were collected and compared to baseline characteristics.

Main Results:

• Response rates varied significantly: 43% for medical students, 27% for residents, and 20% for faculty (P < 0.0001).
• Lower response rates were observed among male respondents, respondents of color, midlevel residents, and assistant professors.
• Significant differences in survey participation were noted across the three stakeholder groups.

Conclusions:

• Statistically significant disparities in survey response rates exist among medical students, residents, and faculty.
• Further investigation into the causes of survey fatigue in these populations is warranted.
• Addressing survey fatigue is essential for improving response rates and ensuring the reliability of collected data in surgical education studies.