A Practical 10-Step Guide to Conducting Digital Survey Research (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Background: The use of digital surveys for research in clinical settings is increasing, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when much data collection planned to be done in-person is now occurring digitally. Successfully preparing and conducting a digital survey can be challenging for even the most experienced researcher, given the number of platforms available to choose from, intricacies of designing an effective and user-friendly tool, and factors affecting participant response rates. OBJECTIVE Objective: In this article, we present a practical, step-by-step guide to conduct digital survey research. METHODS Methods: Over time, our clinician-led research team has developed a standard process and tools for conducting digital survey research, which we have synthesized into a single resource accessible to all team members. Specific considerations and recommendations unique to digital surveys are included. RESULTS Results: The step-by-step guide has been used successfully by our team to design and carry out high-quality survey research. It can guide the novice or experienced researcher from protocol development through to data collection and knowledge dissemination. CONCLUSIONS Conclusion: We present a practical guide for digital survey research, based on the experience of a clinician-led research team. Researchers, trainees, students, and others conducting health research may find our process and resources helpful to inform their work. Communication templates and tools are provided (see Appendices).