TY  - JOUR
AU  - Sebo, Paul
AU  - Tudrej, Benoit
AU  - Bernard, Augustin
AU  - Delaunay, Bruno
AU  - Dupuy, Alexandra
AU  - Malavergne, Claire
AU  - Maisonneuve, Hubert
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/2/25
TI  - Increasing Participation and Completion Rates in Questionnaire Surveys of Primary Care Patients: Cluster-Randomized Study
JO  - Interact J Med Res
SP  - e67981
VL  - 14
KW  - completion rate
KW  - missing data
KW  - mixed mode
KW  - web-based
KW  - participation rate
KW  - primary care
KW  - questionnaire
KW  - QR code
KW  - tablet
KW  - survey
KW  - primary care patients
KW  - randomized study
AB  - Background: Participation and completion rates in questionnaire-based surveys are often low. Objective: This study aims to assess participation and completion rates for a survey using paper and mixed mode questionnaires with patients recruited by research assistants in primary care waiting rooms. Methods: This cluster-randomized study, conducted in 2023 in France, involved 974 patients from 39 practices randomized into 4 groups: “paper with incentive” (n=251), “paper without incentive” (n=368), “mixed mode with tablet” (n=187), and “mixed mode with QR code” (n=168). Analyses compared the combined paper group with the 2 mixed mode groups and the “paper with incentive” and “paper without incentive” groups. Logistic regressions were used to analyze participation and completion rates. Results: Of the 974 patients recruited, 822 (women: 536/821, 65.3%; median age 52, IQR 37-68 years) agreed to participate (participation rate=84.4%), with no significant differences between groups. Overall, 806 patients (98.1%) answered all 48 questions. Completion rates were highest in the combined paper group (99.8%) compared to mixed mode groups (96.8% for paper or tablet, 93.3% for paper or QR code; P<.001). There was no significant difference in completion rates between the “paper with incentive” and “paper without incentive” groups (100% vs 99.7%). Conclusions: Recruiting patients in waiting rooms with research assistants resulted in high participation and completion rates across all groups. Mixed mode options did not enhance participation or completion rates but may offer logistical advantages. Future research should explore incentives and mixed-mode strategies in diverse settings. 
SN  - 1929-073X
UR  - https://www.i-jmr.org/2025/1/e67981
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/67981
DO  - 10.2196/67981
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/67981
ER  -