BACKGROUND: Low response rates to surveys are a problem in general practice. There is evidence that offering GPs incentives improves response rates to postal questionnaires. However, there is less evidence about the most effective form of incentive. OBJECTIVE: Our trial aimed to maximize response to a postal questionnaire and to test the most effective form of incentive. METHODS: The study involved a randomized controlled trial of a postal survey RESULTS: The incentive of a lottery for six bottles of champagne generated a response rate of 79%. Furthermore, one chance of six bottles generated 9% more responses than six chances of one bottle. CONCLUSIONS: This study has established that, among incentives for postal questionnaires, one big prize improves the yield more than many small prizes despite the lower odds of winning. It has also confirmed that offering a modest incentive to GPs generates good response rates for postal questionnaires.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Low response rates to surveys are a problem in general practice. There is evidence that offering GPs incentives improves response rates to postal questionnaires. However, there is less evidence about the most effective form of incentive. OBJECTIVE: Our trial aimed to maximize response to a postal questionnaire and to test the most effective form of incentive. METHODS: The study involved a randomized controlled trial of a postal survey RESULTS: The incentive of a lottery for six bottles of champagne generated a response rate of 79%. Furthermore, one chance of six bottles generated 9% more responses than six chances of one bottle. CONCLUSIONS: This study has established that, among incentives for postal questionnaires, one big prize improves the yield more than many small prizes despite the lower odds of winning. It has also confirmed that offering a modest incentive to GPs generates good response rates for postal questionnaires.
Authors: Y Martins; R I Lederman; C L Lowenstein; S Joffe; B A Neville; B T Hastings; G A Abel Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2012-02-28 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Philip James Edwards; Ian Roberts; Mike J Clarke; Carolyn Diguiseppi; Reinhard Wentz; Irene Kwan; Rachel Cooper; Lambert M Felix; Sarah Pratap Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2009-07-08
Authors: Toby Helliwell; Sara Muller; Samantha L Hider; Irena Zwierska; Sarah Lawton; Jane Richardson; Christian Mallen Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2018-11 Impact factor: 5.386