Day-of-the-week effect on doctors' response to a postal questionnaire

Abstract

Objective - To test a possible day-of-the-week effect on doctors' response rate to a postal questionnaire. Design - Dispatch of postal questionnaire randomized to Thursday or Saturday. Setting - A nationwide survey on doctors' attitudes. Subjects - 200 general practitioners and 260 practising specialists/consultants. Main outcome measures - Response rate and Kaplan-Meier survival curve for no-response. Results - the probability of response was not influenced by receiving the questionnaire just before or just after a week-end. Conclusion - Response rates in postal surveys sent to doctors cannot be improved by their receiving the questionnaire just before a week-end. © 1995 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.