KEYWORDS:
E-mail, survey methods, rotavirus vaccine

BACKGROUND:
While most provider surveys are conducted via postal mail, electronic surveys may be a more rapid tool for documenting provider practices. Before this study, Georgia Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics (GA AAP) had not previously used E-mail communication.

OBJECTIVE(S):
To determine the response rate and differences in response to 12 specific questions among postal, fax and E-mail rotavirus vaccine survey recipients.

METHOD(S):
A random sample of 450 immunization providers was selected from 1391 members of GA AAP. Per the directory, 100% of eligible members had postal addresses, 59% had fax numbers and 35% had E-mail addresses. From each group, 150 members were chosen randomly to receive the identical survey and a second/reminder survey by postal mail, fax or E-mail. At one month, non-responders were sent a final survey by a different mode when possible: a fax survey to E-mail and postal non-responders; a postal survey to fax non-responders and those without a fax.

RESULT(S):
Addresses/numbers were invalid for 16% of E-mail, 8% of fax and 4% of postal recipients. After one month, 59/143 (41%) postal, 65/137 (47%) fax and 35/125 (28%) E-mail surveys were completed (p<.05). Among non-responders initially sent E-mail surveys, 15/63 completed the final postal survey, 13/46 the fax survey. The final response rates were 78/143 (55%) for postal, 84/148 (57%) for fax and 68/146 (47%) for E-mail (p=.19). Based on method used to respond the postal, fax and E-mail participants differed (p<.05) on responses to 2/12 rotavirus questions. E-mail responders were the youngest group.

CONCLUSIONS(S):
Fax and E-mail modes may be useful in conducting surveys but alone would not be sufficient at this time. Significant differences in survey answers by response mode may relate to provider characteristics. Use of mixed mode surveys may optimize response rate and representativeness.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Barriers to E-mail surveys.