Postal Group Research Articles

Comparison of E-mail, Fax, and Postal Surveys of Pediatricians

To compare 3 communication modes (postal, fax, and e-mail) in a rotavirus vaccine physician survey. We used 3 communication modes to distribute a survey to physicians listed in the membership directory of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The directory listed 1391 members; however, 404 were deemed ineligible on the basis of their listing as a specialist, retiree, resident in training, or government public health employee. Of the 987 members expected to administer vaccines, 150 were selected randomly to receive the postal survey (postal group). Of the remaining listings, 488 (58%) of 837 listed a fax number; 150 members were selected randomly and faxed a survey (fax group). Of the remaining members, 266 (39%) of 687 had e-mail addresses listed; 150 members were selected randomly for the e-mail survey (e-mail group). A follow-up survey was sent by the same mode at 2 weeks. A final survey was sent via another mode (mixed mode) at 1 month: by fax to e-mail and postal nonresponders and by post to fax nonresponders and those without fax. Eligible respondents in the 3 survey groups were similar in their practice setting and location. Although the e-mail group had fewer median years (8 years) since medical school graduation than the fax group (19 years) and postal group (17 years), a similar percentage of responders in all groups had computers (>85%) and Internet access (> or =70%) at work. However, only 39% of members listed an e-mail address in the directory. In the 2 weeks after the first mailing, 39 surveys were completed via postal mail, 50 via fax, and 16 via e-mail. In the 2 weeks after the second contact (sent at 2 weeks), 20 surveys were completed via postal mail, 15 via fax, and 17 via e-mail. The response rate after the first 2 mailings was 41% (59 of 143) for postal, 47% (65 of 137) for fax, and 26% (33 of 125) for e-mail surveys. The third and final survey (sent 1 month after the first mailing) was sent by a different (ie, mixed) mode and elicited an additional 73 responses: 19 responses (15 postal, 4 fax) from the postal group, 19 responses (18 postal, 1 fax) from the fax group, and 35 responses (15 postal, 13 fax, 7 e-mail) from the e-mail group. Twenty-three percent (9 of 40) of the e-mail and 18% (15 of 83) of the fax surveys completed were returned on the same or subsequent day they were sent, compared with none of the postal surveys. There were significant differences among the 3 groups for invalid addresses/numbers (4% postal, 8% fax, and 16% e-mail) listed in the directory. Using mixed modes as the third contact, the overall response rate increased from 39% before mixed mode to a final of 53%. On the basis of the 3 initial groups, responses to 1 of 12 rotavirus questions differed significantly. Future use of e-mail surveys in selected circumstances is promising, because the majority of providers have Internet access and acknowledged interest in participating in e-mail surveys. E-mail surveys could be especially useful if rapid response time is necessary. There were fewer incomplete questions by participants who completed the e-mail survey compared with postal or fax participants. Updating membership e-mail addresses and routinely using e-mail as a communication tool should improve the ability to use e-mail surveys. There may need to be ongoing evaluations that critically evaluate providers' responses to e-mail surveys compared with other survey modes before e-mail surveys can become a standard survey tool. In the meantime, mixed-mode surveys may be an option.

Hypersensitivity to sound (hyperacusis): a prevalence study conducted via the internet and post: Hipersensibilidad al sonido (hiperacusia): un estudio de prevalencia realizado por internet y por correo

The present study explored the prevalence and descriptive characteristics of hyperacusis, defined as unusual intolerance of ordinary environmental sounds. Two ways of collecting data were used in the study: the first was a postal survey of a random sample, to which 589 responded (59.7% response rate); the second was the internet, and 595 self-recruited individuals responded to a call for participants via a banner on a web page (51.9% response rate). The point prevalence rates of hyperacusis were 9% in the internet group and 8% in the postal group. Exclusion of participants who reported hearing impairment resulted in point prevalence rates of 7.7% (n = 39) and 5.9% (n =28) respectively. The data collection format did not result in any substantial differences. Hyperacusis was associated with concentration difficulties, use of ear protection, avoidance, tension, and sensitivity to light/colours. The present data suggest that hyperacusis is a common problem.Sumario: El presente estudio exploró la prevalencia y las caractcrislicas descriptivas de la hiperacusia, definida como la inlolerancia inusual a los sonidos ordinarios del ambienle. Se utilizaron dos forma para recoger la información en el estudio: la primera fue una encuesta postal de una muestra al azar, a la que respondieron 589 personas (tasa de respuesta del 59.7%); la segunda fue a través de internet y 595 individuos voluntarios respondieron a un llamado a participar por medio de un anuncio en una página web (51.9%) de tasa de respuesta). Las tasas de prevalencia para hiperacusia fueron de 9% en el grupo de internet y 8% en el grupo postal. La exclusión de participantes que reportaron tener una hipoacusia generó una tasa de prevalencia del 7.7%, (n = 39) y del 5.9% (n =28), respectivamente. El formato de recolección de información no mostró ninguna diferencia sustancial. La hiperacusia fue asociada con dificultades de concentración, uso de protectores auditivos, y con sensibilidad, tensión y tendencia a evitar luz y colores. Esta información sugiere que la hiperacusia es un problema frecuente.

Practice patterns in the treatment of female urinary incontinence: a postal and internet survey

Objectives. To survey American urologists to assess practice patterns in treating female incontinence. Advances in the treatment of female incontinence have changed the way urologists practice. Methods. Postal and e-mail surveys were sent to 2502 members of the American Urological Association. Results. From the postal group (n = 1000), 419 (42%) responses were obtained; from the e-mail group (n = 1502), 160 (11%) responses were obtained. For types I, II, and III stress urinary incontinence (SUI), 239 (44%) of 546, 388 (68%) of 570, and 512 (94%) of 547 urologists, respectively, recommended a sling procedure. For type I SUI, 75 (53%) of the 143 respondents in practice for less than 10 years recommended a sling procedure. The sling was recommended by 62 (35%) of the 176 respondents in practice for longer than 20 years ( P <0.001). Most urologists (75%, 358 of 480) referred patients with significant vaginal prolapse to a gynecologist; however, urologists in full-time academic practice were more likely to offer surgical treatment (56%, 29 of 52). Most urologists recommended medical treatment for urge incontinence (94%, 461 of 491), and the medications most commonly selected were tolterodine (41%, 202 of 491), oxybutynin (26%, 129 of 491), and extended-release oxybutynin (25%, 125 of 491). Conclusions. Overall, a sling procedure was the most commonly recommended surgical procedure for all types of SUI. Most urologists referred patients with significant vaginal prolapse to a gynecologist. For type I SUI, older urologists were more likely than younger urologists to perform needle bladder neck suspension.

Training Agreements: Resolving Under‐Investment in Training?

Here the authors examine UK employers’ use of training agreements and their impact on training and development practice. In particular, they review the literature on training agreements and find this to be underdeveloped and based upon little empirical data. Drawing on postal survey and focus group evidence from management trainees and an interview survey of employers, they show that training agreements are relatively widespread, and that employers mainly use agreements as a filter mechanism to assess an employee’s commitment to the training requested. The evidence suggests that training agreements do little to improve, and may negatively effect, a trainee’s commitment to the employer.

DIE EFFEKTIWITEIT VAN RENTESUBSIDIES OP OORLAATSKULD AAN PRODUSENTE IN DIE NOORDWES-VRYSTAAT / The effectiveness of interest subsidies on carry-over debt to farmers in the North-Western Free State

Abstract Interest Subsidies, as one of the emergency relief schemes to drought stricken farmers in the summer rainfall regions, was implemented to give producers the opportunity to recover from their financial setback through alleviating their interest burden and financing of new production credit. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this aid can make a sufficient contribution to the financial recovery of this farmers. As basis for the approach in this study a typical farm was constructed for each relief scheme with data collected through a postal questionnare survey and group discussions. The North-western Free State were used as study area. A simulation model was used to determine the influence this assistance will have on the typical farm over a ten year period, with three different inflation situations. The results show that interest subsidy aid for the Ten year scheme is at present not enough to ensure the long term solvability of this farmers. If the present value of the state's expences o...

Trend razvoja skupine financijskih usluga pošta

This paper deals with the definition and review of financial postal services group in the period of 1981-1989 . Based upon the review the author draws his conclusions on the existing clearly pronounced divergence in the tendencies of individual types of services, involving their division in two opposite development trends. Payment operations and banking services for different business banks show high rates of annual increase while at the same time postal money orders and banking services of the Postal Saving Bank mark steady decrease in the years of the observed period. However, viewed as a group of services (a segment) they have marked a high average annual rate of increase of6.2% for the territory of the Yugoslav Posts and 5. 5 % for the territory of the Croatian Posts due to a dominant share of the former of 93% for Yugoslavia and 95% for Croatia as compared to the latter.