Evidence map›Paper›PMID 14622444›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2003

The requirement for prior consent to participate on survey response rates: a population-based survey in Grampian.

Val C Angus, Vikki A Entwistle, Margaret J Emslie, Kim A Walker, Jane E Andrew

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2003. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
28citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

28 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Methods to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023
    Pooled it
  2. Methods to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2009
    Pooled it
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  19. The effect of privacy legislation on observational research.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2008
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Val C AngusFaculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, West Block, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland. v.angus@abdn.ac.uk
Vikki A Entwistle
Margaret J Emslie
Kim A Walker
Jane E Andrew

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA survey was carried out in the Grampian region of Scotland with a random sample of 10,000 adults registered with a General Practitioner in Grampian. The study complied with new legislation requiring a two-stage approach to identify and recruit participants, and examined the implications of this for response rates, non-response bias and speed of response.

methodsA two-stage survey was carried out consistent with new confidentiality guidelines. Individuals were contacted by post and asked by the Director of Public Health to consent to receive a postal or electronic questionnaire about communicating their views to the NHS. Those who consented were then sent questionnaires. Response rates at both stages were measured.

results25% of people returned signed consent forms and were invited to complete questionnaires. Respondents at the consent stage were more likely to be female (odds ratio (OR) response rate of women compared to men = 1.5, 95% CI 1.4, 1.7), less likely to live in deprived postal areas (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.45, 0.78) and more likely to be older (OR for people born in 1930-39 compared to people born in 1970-79 = 2.82, 95% CI 2.36, 3.37). 80% of people who were invited to complete questionnaires returned them. Response rates were higher among older age groups. The overall response rate to the survey was 20%, relative to the original number approached for consent (1951/10000).

conclusionThe requirement of a separate, prior consent stage may significantly reduce overall survey response rates and necessitate the use of substantially larger initial samples for population surveys. It may also exacerbate non-response bias with respect to demographic variables.

Indexed as

Health SurveysInformed ConsentNeeds AssessmentSurveys and QuestionnairesAdolescentAdultAgedBiasConfidentialityElectronic MailFamily PracticeFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPopulation Surveillance

Identifiers

PMID14622444
PMCPMC293468

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.