Skip to main content

Table 1 Study characteristics for pilot surveys 1 and 2

From: Methods to increase response rates to a population-based maternity survey: a comparison of two pilot studies

Pilot survey

1

2

Year of survey

2016

2017

Region

England (nine regions – former GOR*)

England (nine regions – former GOR*)

Number of women sampled

1000

2000

Period of birth

July 2016

March 2017

Baby age at recruitment

3 months

3 months

Pre-notification

No

Yes

Time of initial mail out

October 2016

June 2017

Modes of response available

Postal

Telephone (interpretation service)

Online

Postal

Telephone (interpretation service)

Online

Quick response (QR) codes

No

Yes

Number of reminders

1

2

Timing of reminders

+  4 weeks: reminder questionnaire

(week 5)

+  4 weeks: reminder questionnaire

(week 5)

+  10 weeks: reminder questionnaire

(week 11)

Length of questionnaire

20 pages

16 pages

Design of questionnaire

Based on previous National Maternity Surveys

More user-friendly language

More engaging appearance

  1. *Government Office Regions