Encouraging physicians to respond to surveys through the use of fax technology

High response rates in surveys of physicians are difficult to achieve. One possible strategy to improve physicians' survey participation is to offer t he option of receiving and returning the survey by fax. This study describe s the success of the option of fax communication in a survey of general pra ctitioners, family physicians, and pediatricians in Arkansas with regard to pediatric asthma. Eligible physicians were given the choice of receiving t he sun ey by telephone, mail or fax. In this observational study physicians ' preferences, response rates and biases for surveys administered by fax we re compared with mail and telephone surveys. The overall survey response ra te was 59%. I;br the 96 physicians completing an eligibility screener surve y the largest percentage requested to be surveyed by far (47%) rather than by telephone (28%) or mail (25%). Faring may be one strategy to add to the arsenal of tools to increase response rates in surviving physicians.