Intended for healthcare professionals

Letters

Surveys demand too much time

BMJ 1996; 313 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.313.7071.1552 (Published 14 December 1996) Cite this as: BMJ 1996;313:1552
  1. Mark Cottrill
  1. General practitioner Brookmill Medical Centre, Leigh, Lancashire WN7 2RB

    EDITOR,—I suppose that I identify myself as one of the general practitioners who do not respond to postal surveys as defined by Brian R McAvoy and Eileen F S Kaner—older, more experienced, and possibly under stress.1 But there is another reason for the failure to complete and return questionnaires.

    Over the past few months I have been collecting (not returning) questionnaires and now have a total of 19. Eight of these are “national” surveys, nine are from my family health services authority or health authority, and the remaining two I am unable to classify. One offered to advise me of the results; five had “threatening” deadlines (this must be completed and returned by…). The only incentive to completion was the chance to win a weekend in Amsterdam. Given that each questionnaire would take some 10–15 minutes to complete, filling them all in would take 3–4 hours of my time. I recollect that in my first 10 years in general practice I completed perhaps one survey a year.

    References

    1. 1.

    Log in

    Log in through your institution

    Subscribe

    * For online subscription