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Previous trials of dissemination were identified
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  1. P Edwards,
  2. R Cooper
  1. Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Mr P Edwards
 LSHTM, 49–51 Bedford Square, London WC1B3DP, UK; phil.edwardslshtm.ac.uk

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    Morrison et al examine the effect on questionnaire response of feeding back research findings to participants.1 As authors of the systematic review2 cited in their paper we would like to point out that we had in fact identified eight such randomised trials.3–10 The broad strategy under which these trials had been classified in our review was “non-monetary incentives”. We are currently updating our systematic review and have recently extended the search of databases to the beginning of 2003 and have contacted the authors of potentially eligible trials. A further two trials11,12 have been identified and the total of 10 trials have also been classified under the new strategy called “offer of research findings”. These trials include a total of 13 642 participants. When the results of these trials are pooled in a random effects meta analysis the odds ratio for response with research findings is 0.92 (95% CI 0.75 to 1.11). Despite omitting to refer to these previous trials, Morrison et al were justified in conducting their trial: few of such trials have been health related and none has examined the effect of this intervention when participants are being resurveyed. However, even with the inclusion of their new trial in our systematic review, uncertainty about the effect of dissemination of research findings on questionnaire response remains.

    The update to our systematic review now includes a total of 372 trials of methods to influence response to postal questionnaires, classified under 98 strategies. Although many conclusions remain unchanged our updated review presents the definitive account of the evidence for which strategies may be used to improve response to postal questionnaires. The updated review will appear in the Cochrane Library later this year.

    References

    1. ↵
      Morrison DS, Thomson H, Petticrew M. Effects of disseminating research findings on response rates in a community survey: a randomised controlled trial. J Epidemiol Community Health2003;57:536–7.
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    2. ↵
      Edwards P, Roberts I, Clarke M, et al. Increasing response rates to postal questionnaires: systematic review. BMJ 2002;324:1183–5.
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      Dommeyer CJ. Does response to an offer of mail survey results interact with questionnaire interest? Journal of the Market Research Society1985;27:27–38.
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    4. Dommeyer CJ. Offering mail survey results in a lift letter. Journal of the Market Research Society1989;31:399–408.
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    7. Jobber D, Sanderson S. The effect of two variables on industrial mail survey returns. Industrial Marketing Management1985;14:119–21.
    8. Kerin RA, Barry TE, Dubinsky AJ, et al. Offer of results and mail survey response from a commercial population: a test of Gouldner’s norm of reciprocity. Proceeding of the American Institute of Decision Sciences 1981:283–5.
    9. Mullner RM, Levy PS, Byre CS, et al. Effects of characteristics of the survey instrument on response rates to a mail survey of community hospitals. Public Health Rep 1982;97:465–9.
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      Powers DE, Alderman DL. Feedback as an incentive for responding to a mail questionnaire. Research in Higher Education1982;17:207–11.
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      Thistlethwaite PC. The impact of selected mail response enhancement techniques on surveys of the mature market: some new evidence. Journal of Professional Services Marketing1993;8:269–76.
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      Wiseman F. Methodological bias in public opinion surveys. Public Opinion Quarterly1972;36:105–8.
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