INTRODUCTION: Survey response rates have greatly declined in the past decade, causing researchers to seek new ways to increase participation. The Connecticut Department of Health
(CT DPH) and ICF International conducted two pilot studies in 2012 using text messages to 1) increase response rates to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) cell phone
survey, and 2) increase participation in the BRFSS Non-Response Web Follow-up. METHOD: To evaluate the impact of an advance text message on survey response, the CT BRFSS cell phone sample was divided into 3 groups: Group 1 was sent a text asking the respondent to complete the telephone survey when called, also offering a $10 incentive. Group 2 received the text invitation with no incentive offer, and group 3, the control group, did not receive a text message. The second pilot consisted of sending BRFSS telephone nonresponders a text message invitation to complete the survey via Web. Non-responders were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 received 2 text messages inviting them to participate in the Web survey and offered a $10 incentive for participating. Group 2 was sent the text invitations, without an incentive. RESULTS: Early results show that text invitations to the Web survey do not have a significant effect on response rates. Initial results of advance texts to cell phones show a 2% increase in CASRO over the control group, while advance text with incentives show a 3% increase in CASRO over the control group. We will conduct further analyses after all data has been collected, and determine whether this increase in response rate is significant. CONCLUSION: Based on preliminary results, text messages as a tool to increase response had mixed results. Advance text messages increased participation in a telephone survey, but text messages to BRFSS non-responders were ineffective in increasing Web survey participation.