. Trends in User Preferences for Completing Practice Based Research Network Surveys: A Report from PRIME Net Philip J. Kroth, MD, MS 1, Elvan Daniels, MD 3, Robert Leverence, MD 1, Laurie McPherson, MSCIS 1, Wilson Pace, MD 2, Robert Rhyne, MD 1, and Robert Williams, MD 1 1 The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, for RIOS Net, 2 The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, for CaReNet, 3 The Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, for SERCN Abstract A common activity of practiced-based research networks (PBRN’s) is survey research. Since the arrival of the World Wide Web, more and more surveys are becoming web-based, taking advantage of the potential for decreased costs and faster turn- around time over traditional postal/paper surveys. One of the greatest challenges in performing survey research has always been obtaining adequate response rates. Despite the increasing national access to the Internet, there is little evidence of the effectiveness of PBRN web-based surveys versus more traditional paper methods. We report here the response rates for a survey performed through PRIME Net, a collaboration of three different PBRN’s, first using the web and then using a paper version mailed to web-non-responders. Setting PRIME Net (Primary Care Multiethnic Network) is a collaboration between three different PBRNS: Methods PRIME Net conducted a survey of a sampling of its membership on clinician attitudes toward the screening and treatment of Hepatitis C. The 28-question survey was available in both web- based and paper form. solicitations contained a link to the web-based survey and also a link to a PDF version of the survey that could be printed out and either mailed or faxed back. Non- responders were sent periodic reminder s and a post card. Paper survey solicitations included a link to the web-based version of the survey as well as a postage paid return envelope. Individual network listserves were used to periodic reminders to non-responders. The graphic below illustrates the sequence of , paper and post card solicitations/reminders: Results Conclusions Acknowledgements This work is supported in part through a contract with the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: HHSN C RIOS NetSERCNCaReNetTotal Total Number of Solicitations Valid online respondents Valid paper respondents Valid fax respondents1012 Total paper/fax respondents Total all respondents % Respondents Paper25%37%21%24% % Respondents Web75%63%79%76% Paper 1 Paper 2 Postcard  These data suggest that PBRN’s who wish to optimize response rates to member web-based surveys should consider providing a paper option after providing a web- based opportunity.  Surveys in paper form are still preferred by approximately one quarter of the PBRN members from our three network collaborative as a whole.  Providing a paper option after a web-based survey may increase the response rate by 25-67% as shown here.  PBRN’s with more mateur IT infrastructure may tend to have higher web-based response rates than those with less mature IT infrastructure.  Because web-based surveys are less costly to operationalize, a hybrid approach offering users first electronic and then paper may be a reasonable compromise between high response rate and cost.  To a great extent, PBRN members do not prefer to return results of a paper survey via fax. Printable/faxable PDF version were not preferred (only two faxed back.)  Post card reminders may not be of significant benefit to increase response rate when using a web first -- paper second hybrid survey design.  Multiple solicitations, although potentially annoying, do in fact seem to elicit additional responses, although with decreasing effectiveness.  The response rate to paper solicitations is more than a week longer than to solicitations.  Colorado Research Network (CaReNet)  Research Involving Outpatient Settings Network (RIOS Net)  Southeast Regional Clinicians' Network (SERCN) Ad-Hoc Promotion