Paper surveys for health services

Patient, client and service-user surveys need to be easy to complete, reliable to capture and handled carefully. We manage the paper workflow from scannable form design through to verified data and linked PDF images.

Relevant experience: our work spans 18 health and medical organisations since 2007.

Organisation counts include identifiable end organisations where CDS performed the work through a research consultancy or other intermediary.

What health survey teams need from a paper-mode partner

Forms people can complete without friction. We combine professional graphic design with specialist form layout, considering readable type, contrast, clear instructions and adequate answer space for the people completing it. We can work to supplied accessibility and clear print guidelines, including requirements for older respondents and people with low vision. Efficient use of page space never takes priority over readability or room for answers.

A consistent set of participant materials. Using your supplied questions and written content, we can prepare the questionnaire, participant information sheets, instructions, covering letters and envelopes to your brand or style guide. Supporting artwork is included as required, with your team approving the proof. See form design and supporting artwork.

Mixed-mode support. Paper can complement your online collection. Forms, letters or instructions can include a QR code and short link, or a login unique to each respondent, whether mailed individually or handed out through clinics and other sites. Return reporting is agreed around forms received by CDS and any updates supplied by your team.

Traceable outputs. Closed responses are captured by optical mark recognition. Critical fields, blanks and multiple responses to single-select questions can be presented to an operator for visual confirmation. Open-ended responses are clipped and keyed by operators, normally with spelling correction unless you request verbatim entry.

How the loop applies

You send the questions, any required wording and your brand, print or accessibility requirements. We develop and proof the graphic design and scannable form layout, arrange Australian printing and personalise where required.

Distribution can be by individual Australia Post mail-out or bulk delivery to your organisation, clinics and participating sites through Australia Post or other couriers. Completed forms can return directly to CDS, including by Reply Paid where arranged, or be collected by your team and sent to us in batches. These outward and return arrangements can be combined independently. See distribution and returns.

We scan and verify the responses and deliver the agreed Excel or CSV data. Each returned form can be supplied as its own PDF, with the PDF link carried in the corresponding data row.

Typical health and service-user projects

• Patient experience surveys
• Client and service-user feedback
• Program and service evaluations
• Staff and stakeholder surveys
• Mixed-mode paper and online studies

Paper and electronic survey data are retained for three months after delivery, or for another period agreed for the project, then securely destroyed or returned as agreed.