Survey Notification Letter

Department of Veterans Affairs
Boston Healthcare System

Health-Care Use Survey for Enduring Freedom and
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans
Dear Veteran,
We are writing to ask for your help with a survey being conducted by the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) as part of a study funded by the VA Health Services Research &
Development Service. The purpose of the survey is to better understand the factors that impact
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans’ use of
healthcare services. We are contacting a random sample of OEF/OIF veterans to learn more
about their use of healthcare services, both within and outside of the VA, as well as about factors
that may influence their decision to use healthcare services. The enclosed Study Fact Sheet
provides details about the study.
Within the next couple of weeks you will receive a survey in the mail, along with a $15 check as
a token of our appreciation. The survey is expected to take approximately 45 minutes to
complete.
The decision about whether to participate is up to you and you may choose to answer or skip any
survey questions you want. Your responses are invaluable to this study, however, so we hope
that you will find the time to assist us in this effort.
If you agree to participate in the study, all you have to do is complete the survey that is mailed to
you, and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.
If you do not want to complete the survey, simply return the postage-paid postcard included in
this packet and check off the “I am declining to participate in this study” option, so that we know
not to contact you again about this study. If we made a mistake and you are not an OEF/OIF
veteran, please indicate this by checking the “I am not an OEF/OIF veteran” option on the
postage-paid postcard and return it to us.
We sincerely appreciate your time and consideration. If you have any questions about this
project, please feel free to call Dr. Dawne Vogt, the Principal Investigator of this study, at 857364-5976.
Sincerely,
Dawne Vogt, Ph.D.
Study Principal Investigator