Randomized Trial of Leaving Messages on Telephone Answering Machines for Control Recruitment in an Epidemiologic Study

Abstract

To determine whether leaving messages on answering machines would aid control recruitment via random-digit telephone dialing, a randomized trial was conducted during 1992-1994 involving 1,323 western Washington households with answering machines. For the experimental group, a message was left informing them about the study and promising a call-back; for the control group, no message was left. Leaving a message increased the response rate by about 20 percentage points (p = 0.002). More households were successfully screened for eligible controls, and individuals found eligible were more likely to participate. Leaving a message can help to improve response rates in telephone surveys.