Brief Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Orthop. Jan 18, 2012; 3(1): 1-4
Published online Jan 18, 2012. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v3.i1.1
Factors affecting response rates to mailed preoperative surveys among arthroplasty patients
Wenbao Wang, Jeffrey A Geller, Abraham Kim, Todd A Morrison, Jung Keun Choi, William Macaulay
Wenbao Wang, Jeffrey A Geller, Abraham Kim, Todd A Morrison, Jung Keun Choi, William Macaulay, Center for Hip and Knee Replacement, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia, New York, NY 10032, United States
Author contributions: Wang W and Macaulay W designed the study; Geller JA and Macaulay W performed all surgeries; Wang W, Morrison TA and Choi JK performed the data collection; Wang W and Kim A drafted the manuscript; Wang W and Macaulay W did the revision and final approval.
Supported by Funding from the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation to Wang W
Correspondence to: William Macaulay, MD, Center for Hip and Knee Replacement, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia, PH 1146, PH 11th Floor, W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States. m143@columbia.edu
Telephone: +1-212-3056959 Fax: +1-212-3054024
Received: August 30, 2011
Revised: October 28, 2011
Accepted: January 1, 2012
Published online: January 18, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To identify factors that affect patient response rates to preoperative functional surveys in hip and knee arthroplasty patients.

METHODS: From May 2008 to March 2009, 247 patients were scheduled more than 4 wk in advance for hip or knee arthroplasty by one of two participating surgeons at our center. A personalized questionnaire comprised of the Short Form 12 (SF-12) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Index was mailed to patients at random time points ranging from 7 to 101 d prior to surgery. Nine independent factors were documented prospectively, including age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, type of surgery, surgeon, days prior to surgery (DPS) of survey mailing, WOMAC score and SF-12 score. The date of the completed survey receipt was also documented. For non-responders, the surveys were completed with the research team at the hospital upon admission. Multivariate regression and χ2 analysis were performed with Statistical Analysis Software software.

RESULTS: DPS was the only factor that affected patient response. Mailing surveys 26 d to 31 d prior to surgery dates led to a peak response rate of 80% that was significantly higher (P < 0.023) than response rates for patients who were mailed their surveys ≤ 16 d (62.5%), 17 d to 25 d (70%) or ≥ 32 d prior to surgery (55%). No other factors, including preoperative WOMAC and SF-12 scores, significantly influenced response behavior.

CONCLUSION: The DPS was independently the most significant predictor of response rates for pre-operative functional data among patients scheduled for hip and knee arthroplasty.

Keywords: Preoperative survey; Response rate; Factor analysis; Arthroplasty