American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 147, No. 2: 141-146
Copyright © 1998 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
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Collecting Saliva Samples by Mail
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland
Collecting saliva samples by mail can serve numerous purposes in epidemiologic research. The objectives of this study were to assess what proportion of participants in a mail survey would provide a saliva sample and whether incentives could improve participation. In 1995, 2,994 students, faculty, and staff members of Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland, were randomized to receive, together with a mailed questionnaire about smoking, a saliva vial, a ballpoint pen, the offer of a lottery, or any combination of these. After one mailing and a reminder letter, response rates were 52% among those who had been requested to provide saliva and 63% among controls (p <0.001). In the former group, most respondents (98%) provided a saliva sample. Incentives improved participation only among those who were asked to provide saliva (lottery: +11% response, p = 0.003; pen: +6% response, p = 0.1). The final participation, after up to three reminders, was 76% overall. The authors conclude that while the collection of saliva samples by mail is feasible it tends to decrease response rates. Am J Epidemiol 1998;147:141–6.
cotinine; data collection; incentives; postal service; randomized controlled trials; saliva; smoking; specimen handling
Reprint requests to Dr. Jean-François Etter, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Geneva, CMU, Case postale, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
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