SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2023
Methods to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires.
Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 63 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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
63 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Strategies to improve recruitment to randomised trials.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2026Pooled it
- How to prevent missing data in cost-effectiveness analyses alongside cardiovascular disease trials? A review on methods of administration of patient-reported outcomes.Journal of patient-reported outcomes · 2026Pooled it
- Factors associated with response to patient-reported outcome measures: a systematic review of systematic and scoping reviews, and meta-analyses.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026Pooled it
- Response is increased using postal rather than electronic questionnaires - new results from an updated Cochrane Systematic Review.BMC medical research methodology · 2024Pooled it
- Mixed Delivery Mode Reminder Strategy to Tackle Low Participation in an e-Cohort: Randomized Controlled Trial Nested Within the Le French Gut e-Cohort.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Trial
- Completion and Compliance Rates for an Intensive mHealth Study Design to Promote Self-Awareness and Self-Care Among Care Partners of Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2025Trial
- Survey administration and participation: a randomized trial in a panel population health survey.BMC medical research methodology · 2025Trial
- Optimising patient engagement for assessing total joint arthroplasty outcomes - a randomised controlled trial.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Trial
- Artificial intelligence-enhanced mapping of the international classification of functioning, disability and health via a mobile app: a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in public health · 2025Trial
- Factors Influencing Response Rates in National Internet-Based Questionnaires: Analysis of a Large National Survey.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2026Article
- Food choices and beliefs in adults with inflammatory bowel disease in Sweden.BMC gastroenterology · 2026Article
- What Is the Interversion Reliability and Agreement Between the Decision Tree Patient-rated Wrist Evaluation and the Full-length Version?Clinical orthopaedics and related research · 2026Article
- Critical Care Dietitians' Practices in the Nutritional Management of Critically Ill Patients Receiving Vasopressors and Artificial Nutrition Support.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2026Article
- Turning a nation into a cohort: combining national registers and a digital mailbox for population-based health research.European journal of epidemiology · 2026Article
- Even the COVID-19 pandemic didn´t change anything: insights from a trend study on the cooperation of general practitioners and occupational health physicians in Germany.BMC primary care · 2026Article
- Trends in anxiety and depressive symptoms among adults in Norway based on eight population-based surveys from 1995 to 2024.Discover mental health · 2026Article
- Barriers and enablers for publishing results of randomized trials: a cross-sectional survey of principal investigators in sub-Saharan Africa.Research integrity and peer review · 2026Article
- Development and validation of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) questionnaire on pediatric pain management for physicians and nurses.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- It's Time to Get Practical: A Call for Shorter Measures in the Family Planning Community.Studies in family planning · 2026Article
- The Quality of Outpatient Health Care: An Evaluation of Common Mental and Physical Conditions in Childhood and Adolescence (the QualiPäd Study).Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2026Article
3 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
- Update of
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundSelf-administered questionnaires are widely used to collect data in epidemiological research, but non-response reduces the effective sample size and can introduce bias. Finding ways to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires would improve the quality of epidemiological research.
objectivesTo identify effective strategies to increase response to postal and electronic questionnaires. SEARCH
methodsWe searched 14 electronic databases up to December 2021 and manually searched the reference lists of relevant trials and reviews. We contacted the authors of all trials or reviews to ask about unpublished trials; where necessary, we also contacted authors to confirm the methods of allocation used and to clarify results presented. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised trials of methods to increase response to postal or electronic questionnaires. We assessed the eligibility of each trial using pre-defined criteria. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We extracted data on the trial participants, the intervention, the number randomised to intervention and comparison groups and allocation concealment. For each strategy, we estimated pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in a random-effects model. We assessed evidence for selection bias using Egger's weighted regression method and Begg's rank correlation test and funnel plot. We assessed heterogeneity amongst trial odds ratios using a Chi MAIN
resultsPostal We found 670 eligible trials that evaluated over 100 different strategies of increasing response to postal questionnaires. We found substantial heterogeneity amongst trial results in half of the strategies. The odds of response almost doubled when: using monetary incentives (odds ratio (OR) 1.86; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.73 to 1.99; heterogeneity I AUTHORS'
conclusionsResearchers using postal and electronic questionnaires can increase response using the strategies shown to be effective in this Cochrane review.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.