Leicester assessment package.

tion in 500 general practices in England and Wales. The questionnaire is short-one side of A4 with 10 questions-and takes approximately two minutes to complete. The introductory letter, signed by the researchers, was addressed to the practice manager requesting him or her to give it to the general practitioner most involved in cervical smear testing. For the follow up of non-respondents, the practice manager was asked to give the questionnaire to the general practitioner most likely to complete it; the follow-up letter to the general practitioner was signed by the head of department. The response rate after the first questionnaire was 50%, and after the second questionnaire the response rate had increased to 76%. Although Sibbald and colleagues gained a good response from the telephone questionnaire, the costs of obtaining a completed questionnaire by telephone were approximately four times higher than by post. In addition, telephone surveys of general practitioners tan be frustrating and time consuming for the researcher who finds the general practi-tioner's telephone number engaged, on answerphone or that the general practitioner is unavailable in surgery or out on visits.