Optimizing Response Rates to Examine Health IT Maturity and Nurse Practitioner Care Environments in US Nursing Homes:...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Nursing Informatics
• Survey Methodology

Background:

• Mixed-mode survey designs enhance data collection by combining web, phone, face-to-face, and mail methods.
• Benefits include increased engagement, improved access, and higher response rates in survey research.
• This protocol explores health IT (HIT) maturity and nurse practitioner (NP) care environments in US nursing homes (NHs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a research protocol utilizing mixed-mode survey designs for US nursing home research.
• To investigate health IT maturity and NP care environments using two distinct survey tools.
• To optimize data collection strategies for administrators and NPs in nursing home settings.

Main Methods:

• A national survey of 1400 nursing home administrators and NPs was conducted.
• Two surveys were employed: one for HIT maturity (administrators) and one for NP care environments (NPs).
• Iterative focus groups informed the selection of mixed-mode designs (Delayed Concurrent, Sequential for administrators; Concurrent for NPs).

Main Results:

• Participant recruitment commenced in June 2023, with 98 HIT maturity surveys and 81 NP surveys returned by April 2024.
• Electronic links were the primary submission method for both surveys (71% for HIT maturity, 95% for NP surveys).
• Recruitment is ongoing through July 2025.

Conclusions:

• Mixed-mode survey designs (delayed concurrent, concurrent, sequential) expedite recruitment compared to single-mode methods.
• Single-mode strategies offer less versatility and adaptability, potentially lowering response rates.
• Mixed-mode approaches are effective for recruiting diverse participants in nursing home settings.