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Abstract

E-mail or snail mail? Randomized controlled trial on which works better for surveys.

Canadian Family Physician March 2004, 50 (3) 414-419;
Rachelle Seguin
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Marshall Godwin
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Susan MacDonald
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Marnie McCall
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  1. Rachelle Seguin,
  2. Marshall Godwin,
  3. Susan MacDonald and
  4. Marnie McCall

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVE To compare e-mail with regular mail for conducting surveys of physicians.

    DESIGN Randomized controlled trial.

    SETTING Ontario, Canada.

    PARTICIPANTS A random sample of physicians listed in the College of Family Physicians of Canada's membership database.

    INTERVENTIONS Survey delivered by e-mail and by post.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Response rates and times, and completeness and characteristics of responses to the survey.

    RESULTS Overall response rate was 44.7% (33.6% of e-mail recipients, 52.7% of post recipients who have e-mail, and 47.8% of post recipients without e-mail). While the e-mail rate was significantly lower than for both post groups, e-mail responses were received much faster. There was no significant difference among groups as to completeness of responses, but e-mail responses had more frequent and longer comments.

    CONCLUSION E-mail provides faster but fewer responses to surveys. Content of structured-response questions was similar in all groups, but e-mail provided more and longer responses to open-ended questions. Where a quick response to a survey is required, e-mail is superior.

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    Canadian Family Physician
    Vol. 50, Issue 3
    1 Mar 2004
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    E-mail or snail mail? Randomized controlled trial on which works better for surveys.
    Rachelle Seguin, Marshall Godwin, Susan MacDonald, Marnie McCall
    Canadian Family Physician Mar 2004, 50 (3) 414-419;

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    E-mail or snail mail? Randomized controlled trial on which works better for surveys.
    Rachelle Seguin, Marshall Godwin, Susan MacDonald, Marnie McCall
    Canadian Family Physician Mar 2004, 50 (3) 414-419;
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