This systematic review by Edwards et al. (2009) aims to identify effective strategies to increase response rates to postal and electronic questionnaires. The review includes 481 trials for postal questionnaires and 32 trials for electronic questionnaires, evaluating various methods such as monetary and non-monetary incentives, shorter questionnaires, personalized materials, and improved appearance. Key findings include: - **Postal Questionnaires:** - Monetary incentives significantly increase response rates (odds ratio 1.87, 95% CI 1.73 to 2.04). - Recorded delivery, teases on envelopes, and more interesting topics also enhance response rates. - Pre-notification, follow-up contact, unconditional incentives, shorter questionnaires, and providing a second copy of the questionnaire are effective. - Non-monetary incentives, personalized materials, hand-written addresses, stamped return envelopes, confidentiality assurance, and university sponsorship also improve response rates. - Sensitive questions reduce response rates. - **Electronic Questionnaires:** - Non-monetary incentives and shorter e-questionnaires significantly increase response rates. - Including a statement that others have responded, more interesting topics, and immediate notification of lottery results also enhance response rates. - Personalized e-questionnaires, simple headers, textual representation of response categories, and deadlines are effective. - Inclusion of pictures in emails, use of white backgrounds, and giving deadlines also improve response rates. - Mentioning "Survey" in the email subject line and including a male signature reduce response rates. The authors conclude that health researchers can effectively increase response rates to postal and electronic questionnaires by implementing these strategies.This systematic review by Edwards et al. (2009) aims to identify effective strategies to increase response rates to postal and electronic questionnaires. The review includes 481 trials for postal questionnaires and 32 trials for electronic questionnaires, evaluating various methods such as monetary and non-monetary incentives, shorter questionnaires, personalized materials, and improved appearance. Key findings include: - **Postal Questionnaires:** - Monetary incentives significantly increase response rates (odds ratio 1.87, 95% CI 1.73 to 2.04). - Recorded delivery, teases on envelopes, and more interesting topics also enhance response rates. - Pre-notification, follow-up contact, unconditional incentives, shorter questionnaires, and providing a second copy of the questionnaire are effective. - Non-monetary incentives, personalized materials, hand-written addresses, stamped return envelopes, confidentiality assurance, and university sponsorship also improve response rates. - Sensitive questions reduce response rates. - **Electronic Questionnaires:** - Non-monetary incentives and shorter e-questionnaires significantly increase response rates. - Including a statement that others have responded, more interesting topics, and immediate notification of lottery results also enhance response rates. - Personalized e-questionnaires, simple headers, textual representation of response categories, and deadlines are effective. - Inclusion of pictures in emails, use of white backgrounds, and giving deadlines also improve response rates. - Mentioning "Survey" in the email subject line and including a male signature reduce response rates. The authors conclude that health researchers can effectively increase response rates to postal and electronic questionnaires by implementing these strategies.