Authors: Verboncoeur Carol J Stewart Anita L King Abby C Rush Stephanie McLellan Barbara Y Mills Kris
Publish Date: 2000/12/01
Volume: 22, Issue: 4, Pages: 330-333
Abstract
Carol J Verboncoeur Anita L Stewart Abby C King Stephanie Rush Barbara Y McLellan Kris Mills The use of refusal postcards in recruiting older adults Annals of Behavioral Medicine Volume 22 Issue 4 December 2000 Pages 330–333 https//doiorg/101007/BF02895670This article examines whether a refusal postcard makes recruitment more efficient or instead reduces response rates to a telephone survey of older adults Medicare health maintenance organization HMO members were randomly sampled in sequential phases All samples received an initial contact letter from a HMO geriatrician A refusal postcard was included in the first sample N = 178 however the remaining six samples did not receive this postcard N = 1003 An overall refusal rate of 32 was observed when postcards were included versus a 14 rate of refusal when postcards were excluded p 001 When potential respondents were reached by telephone refusal rates were similar 9 versus 10 Despite the higher refusal rate among the sample receiving the refusal postcard no significant differences in demographics health and health behaviors were observed between the two final sample groups completing the survey We conclude that refusal postcards greatly increase the refusal rates without offering any prescreening advantage in the recruitment process of older adults and could increase the costs of recruitment for a telephone survey Furthermore use of a refusal postcard precludes individuals from making fully informed decisions about participating in research
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