Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Jan 16, 2026
Date Accepted: Jul 12, 2026
Factors Influencing Response Rates in National Internet-Based Questionnaires: A Large National Survey
ABSTRACT
Background:
Digital mail box platforms established by authorities for secure communication with citizens are increasingly available for distribution of surveys.
Objective:
To investigate questionnaire characteristics predicting participation in a survey among men distributed through a national digital mailbox solution.
Methods:
Internet-based survey through a digital mail box used by Danish authorities for secure communication with citizens. Predictors for response were analyzed using logistic regression.
Results:
We found some evidence suggesting a rule of thumb that reminders may add another half to the response rate achieved in the preceding invitation. Longer questionnaire variants, questionnaires with attached information material, or with potentially distressful emotional content tended to yield lower response rates.
Conclusions:
We confirmed some previous findings from other modes of survey distribution on the association between response rates and questionnaire characteristics sustaining the importance of attention to these when designing internet-based surveys distributed through digital mailbox . Clinical Trial: NA
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