{"id":27099,"date":"2020-03-05T14:58:56","date_gmt":"2020-03-05T22:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/?p=27099"},"modified":"2024-02-02T13:49:19","modified_gmt":"2024-02-02T21:49:19","slug":"anonymous-surveys-are-they-really-worth-the-hype","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/birdeye.com\/blog\/anonymous-surveys-are-they-really-worth-the-hype\/","title":{"rendered":"Anonymous Surveys: Are They Really Worth The Hype?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I think that if healthcare providers had insight into their patients\u2019 experiences, things would be so different. What\u2019s a low-risk way to gather patient feedback<\/a>, you ask? Anonymous surveys. I have been thinking about anonymous surveys and why people don\u2019t use them enough since my visit to the dentist last week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone dreads going to the dentist and so do I. In addition to the painful treatment you go through on the chair (I mean, have you ever had a root canal treatment done?), the anxiety of waiting always gets to me. However, the one good thing about going to my dentist was that they had a small but good collection of manga in their waiting room. I\u2019d settle with a comic and soon even forget that I was at the dentist\u2019s office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During my last week\u2019s visit, much to my horror, I found that the little manga section has been removed. When I checked with the front desk attendant, he said that the manga was let go of in a bid to get more professional. How sad! I didn’t care about the health magazines they had, which meant that I sat in silence worrying about what happens next. I didn\u2019t think the manga was unprofessional and neither did the other two patients I was waiting with. Now my dentist was also just like the others, and I was sorely (pun intended) disappointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this could\u2019ve been avoided if they sent out surveys to their patients. Something quick and to the point that would make my patient experience better \u2014 where do I sign up? It has been reported that 40% of patients feel rushed<\/a>, so sending a survey to get their feedback is always a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthcare providers need to make a lot of decisions and most of their decisions affect patients\u2019 experience. Using surveys will help healthcare providers understand what is working and what should change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Should You Choose Anonymous Surveys?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anonymous surveys are great for when people don\u2019t want to disclose their identities. Think about the questions you are asking. Are they personal or intimate in nature? For example, for a medical practice, most questions related to a patient\u2019s experience<\/a> tend to be personal. Your patients wouldn\u2019t feel too comfortable telling you how anxious they were before they came in for a visit or how pleased they were with the facilities provided if they knew you\u2019d have their details. Or best case scenario, they wouldn\u2019t be 100% truthful because no one really wants to upset their doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all these reasons, anonymous surveys are a great option. Your patients have their voice and are no longer stressed about who is reading these surveys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you are looking to follow up with the survey respondents, anonymous surveys aren\u2019t much help. Consider this: you sent out an anonymous survey to all your patients, asking them how they felt about the medical practice\u2019s post-operative care. 97% of your patients said it ranged from good to very good, but 3% said that it was terrible. If you want to be able to follow up with whoever had a terrible experience, you wouldn\u2019t be able to get that information with anonymous surveys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In cases like these open surveys or confidential surveys might be the best way to go. You can and should always assure your patients\u2019 that you are only looking to improve your services and that you will treat their information with the utmost respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Advantages Of An Anonymous Survey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how anonymous surveys can benefit your practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Higher Response Rates: <\/strong>Across fields, anonymous surveys have a higher rate of response. Putting down your name next to something is the same thing as saying it to their face. With anonymity, patients feel more secure answering questions or giving opinions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. More Accurate Data: <\/strong>People show more empathy or present a false show of appreciation when their data is collected. Your patients are more likely to sugar-coat their opinions if they know you are reading it as their opinion. Avoid falling down this trap by taking the anonymous survey route. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Increased Trustworthiness: <\/strong>Collecting information anonymously is the mark of someone who really wants to know the truth. If you send out anonymous surveys about your medical practice\u2019s reception music, your patients will know that you are really serious about knowing how happy they are with the music choices. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Patients Feel More Involved: <\/strong>When patients give feedback and you turn it into actionable items, you are sending them a message, loud and clear. You are telling them that you are listening carefully to everything they are saying and that you are open to criticism. This makes customers feel more involved with the practice, which means more positive reviews<\/a> and increased online reputation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Tips To Build An Anonymous Survey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Want to start building anonymous surveys? Here are a few tips to help you get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n