Response Rates in Epidemiologic Studies – Panel discussion **
• Diana Petitti
Senior Scientific Advisor
Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, United States

Improving Response Rates: An Evidence-based Approach

The validity of epidemiologic research can be compromised when response rates are less than 100%, which is common in epidemiologic research. Less than perfect response rates cause bias if the data collected gathered from eligible respondents is not representative of data that would have emerged if all of the eligible subjects responded. High response rates guard against bias. Numerous randomized trials of interventions to increase response to mailed and telephone surveys have been done. Trials pertinent to epidemiologic research have been conducted not only by epidemiologists, but by public opinion pollsters, the United Census Bureau, government entities, and social and behavioral scientists. Studied interventions include, among others, cosmetic changes in mailings and surveys, use of non-financial and financial incentives, the structure and amount of these incentives, personalization of letters, and timing of phone calls. This presentation summarizes the findings from published systematic reviews of randomized trials of interventions to improve response rates. Generalizable interventions to increase response rates are described.

Dr. Petitti received her BA degree from Cornell University, her MD from Harvard Medical School, and her MPH from Berkeley School of Public Health. She currently holds a position as Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Arizona State University. She is Board Certified in Preventive Medicine. Dr. Petitti has held positions as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer, as an epidemiologist the Kaiser Permanente Northern California, as a faculty member at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (where she achieved the rank of Associate Professor with tenure, and as Director of Research and Evaluation at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. She has authored more than 200 journal publications and two books, both in their second edition. She has served on numerous national and international committees, including most recently the Institute of Medicine’s committee that produced the report, “Knowing What Works in Health Care: A Roadmap for the Nation.” She is currently serving the 5th year of a six year term as Vice Chair of the United States Preventive Services Task Force.