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Evaluation & the Health Professions
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A Randomized Trial of the Impact of Certified Mail on Response Rate to a Physician Survey, and a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Maggi L. del Valle

UCLA School of Medicine

Hal Morgenstern

UCLA School of Public Health

Teresa L. Rogstad

University of Minnesota, School of Public Health

Carol Albright

Albright Consulting

Barbara G. Vickrey

UCLA School of Medicine

This study's goals were to (a) determine whether sending a survey by certified mail results in a higher response rate from physicians compared to sending by first-class mail and (b) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this method. The study sample was 409 physicians who were nonrespondents to two previous mailings of a medical specialty society survey. Eligible physicians were designated at random to receive afinal mailing either by U.S. Postal Service certified mail including a return-receipt postcard or by first-class mail. There was a higher response rate from the certified mail group compared with the first-class mail group (41.3% versus 24.8%; relative risk = 1.66, 95% Confidence Interval 1.25, 2.21). A cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the cost per respondent was higher using certified mail versus first-class mail in the third mailing ($2.77 versus $2.34). Thus, use of certified mail is effective in increasing survey response but more costly.

Evaluation & the Health Professions, Vol. 20, No. 4, 389-406 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/016327879702000402
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This article has been cited by other articles:


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 Eval Health ProfHome page
J. B. VanGeest, T. P. Johnson, and V. L. Welch
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Eval Health Prof, December 1, 2007; 30(4): 303 - 321.
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 Am J EpidemiolHome page
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[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]