Abstract
BackgroundThis study assessed the application of the Total Design Method (TDM) in a mail survey of Japanese dentists. The TDM was chosen because survey response rates in Japan are unacceptably low and the TDM had previously been used in a general population survey.MethodsFour hundred and seventy eight dentist members of the Okayama Medical and Dental Practitioner's Association were surveyed. The nine-page, 27-item questionnaire covered dentist job satisfaction, physical practice, and dentist and patient characteristics. Respondents to the first mailing or the one-week follow-up postcard were defined as early responders; others who responded were late responders. Responder bias was assessed by examining age, gender and training.ResultsThe overall response rate was 46.7% (223/478). The response rates by follow-up mailing were, 18% after the first mailing, 35.4% after the follow-up postcard, 42.3% after the second mailing, and 46.7% after the third mailing. Respondents did not differ from non-respondents in age or gender, nor were there differences between early and late responders.ConclusionThe application of TDM in this survey of Japanese dentists produced lower rates of response than expected from previous Japanese and US studies.
Highlights
This study assessed the application of the Total Design Method (TDM) in a mail survey of Japanese dentists
Mail surveys reported in the Japanese medical literature had response rates ranging from 49 to 90% [4,5,6,7,8]
The aim of this study was to assess the application of the TDM in a mail survey of Japanese dentists
Summary
This study assessed the application of the Total Design Method (TDM) in a mail survey of Japanese dentists. Mail survey questionnaires of dentists as well as the general public have been used widely in the U.S and response rates are generally high. In contrast the use of mail surveys in Japan has been less successful. Japanese textbooks on social science research techniques report return rates of no more than 20–40% [1,2,3]. A mail survey conducted by one of the local Japanese dental associations had a response rate of 10% (unpublished data). Mail surveys reported in the Japanese medical literature had response rates ranging from 49 to 90% [4,5,6,7,8]. Research subjects in the various studies were the physicians and residents working at two private University hospitals (Response rate 49.1%) [4], the institutions belonging to an oncology group (Response rate 90.2%) [5], the council members of the Japanese society of child neurology (Response rate (page number not for citation purposes)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
