Trial reportBMC medical research methodology2013
Participant recruitment in sensitive surveys: a comparative trial of 'opt in' versus 'opt out' approaches.
Trial report in BMC medical research methodology, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Cancer survivorship monitoring systems for the collection of patient-reported outcomes: a systematic narrative review of international approaches.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2017Pooled it
- Trial
- Barriers to Recruitment in Pediatric Obesity Trials: Comparing Opt-in and Opt-out Recruitment Approaches.Journal of pediatric psychology · 2017Trial
- Using technology to increase reach and optimize consent experience for a large-scale research program.Journal of clinical and translational science · 2025Article
- Count Me In: an inclusive approach towards patient recruitment for clinical research studies in the NHS.BMJ mental health · 2023Article
- Using a theatre-based programme to prevent gender-based violence: evidence from Australia.Health promotion international · 2023Article
- Enhancing study recruitment through implementation of an opt-out, cold contact process with consideration for autonomy, beneficence and justice.Journal of clinical and translational science · 2023Article
- Enhancing sleep quality for nursing home residents with dementia: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial of an evidence-based frontline huddling program.BMC geriatrics · 2021Article
- The pace of hospital life: A mixed methods study.PloS one · 2021Article
- The rise and fall of an opt-out system.Scandinavian journal of public health · 2020Article
- What sources of bereavement support are perceived helpful by bereaved people and why? Empirical evidence for the compassionate communities approach.Palliative medicine · 2018Article
- Veteran-centered barriers to VA mental healthcare services use.BMC health services research · 2018Article
- Participation in a randomised controlled feasibility study of a complex intervention for the management of the Respiratory Symptom Distress Cluster in lung cancer: patient, carer and research staff views.European journal of cancer care · 2017Article
- Practical application of opt-out recruitment methods in two health services research studies.BMC medical research methodology · 2017Article
- Bereavement support for family caregivers: The gap between guidelines and practice in palliative care.PloS one · 2017Article
- Decision-Making Experiences of Patients with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators.Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE · 2016Article
- Impact of Increased Early Statin Administration on Ischemic Stroke Outcomes: A Multicenter Electronic Medical Record Intervention.Journal of the American Heart Association · 2016Article
- Data Safe Havens and Trust: Toward a Common Understanding of Trusted Research Platforms for Governing Secure and Ethical Health Research.JMIR medical informatics · 2016Article
- A randomised controlled trial comparing opt-in and opt-out home visits for tracing lost participants in a prospective birth cohort study.BMC medical research methodology · 2015Article
- End-of-life care research with bereaved informal caregivers--analysis of recruitment strategy and participation rate from a multi-centre validation study.BMC palliative care · 2015Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAlthough in health services survey research we strive for a high response rate, this must be balanced against the need to recruit participants ethically and considerately, particularly in surveys with a sensitive nature. In survey research there are no established recommendations to guide recruitment approach and an 'opt-in' system that requires potential participants to request a copy of the questionnaire by returning a reply slip is frequently adopted. However, in observational research the risk to participants is lower than in clinical research and so some surveys have used an 'opt-out' system. The effect of this approach on response and distress is unknown. We sought to investigate this in a survey of end of life care completed by bereaved relatives.
methodsOut of a sample of 1422 bereaved relatives we assigned potential participants to one of two study groups: an 'opt in' group (n=711) where a letter of invitation was issued with a reply slip to request a copy of the questionnaire; or an 'opt out' group (n=711) where the survey questionnaire was provided alongside the invitation letter. We assessed response and distress between groups.
resultsFrom a sample of 1422, 473 participants returned questionnaires. Response was higher in the 'opt out' group than in the 'opt in' group (40% compared to 26.4%: χ(2) =29.79, p-value<.01), there were no differences in distress or complaints about the survey between groups, and assignment to the 'opt out' group was an independent predictor of response (OR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.45-2.34). Moreover, the 'opt in' group were more likely to decline to participate (χ(2)=28.60, p-value<.01) and there was a difference in the pattern of questionnaire responses between study groups.
conclusionGiven that the 'opt out' method of recruitment is associated with a higher response than the 'opt in' method, seems to have no impact on complaints or distress about the survey, and there are differences in the patterns of responses between groups, the 'opt out' method could be recommended as the most efficient way to recruit into surveys, even in those with a sensitive nature.
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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.