Randomized trial of $5 versus $10 monetary incentives, envelope size, and candy to increase physician response rates to mailed questionnaires
Randomized trial of $5 versus $10 monetary incentives, envelope size, and candy to increase physician response rates to mailed questionnaires
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DOI：
10.1097/00005650-200209000-00012
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发表时间：
2002-09-01
期刊：
影响因子：
3
通讯作者：
Asch, DA
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Halpern, SD;Ubel, PA;Asch, DA
背景邮寄调查结果的有效性经常受到无答复偏差的威胁，当答复率较低时，这种情况更有可能发生。然而，提高反应率的几种战略的有效性和成本效益尚不确定。为了评估三种策略，以提高答复率邮寄医生调查：包括10美元与5美元的现金奖励在最初的邮件，包括薄荷糖或不，并使用一个大的与小的外发信封。采用2 × 2 × 2析因设计，对这些策略进行了随机试验，调查了从美国医学协会主文件中随机选择的1200名医生。包括10美元的奖励产生了显着更高的响应率（60.5%对52.8%）（P = 0.009）。在5美元组和10美元组中，每个完成的回复的邮寄和激励成本分别为12.24美元（95% CI，11.75美元，13.64美元）和18.48美元（95% CI，17.77美元，20.69美元）。在10美元组中获得的每一个额外响应的增量成本为61.26美元（95% CI，36.98美元，200.80美元）。包括薄荷也不使用一个大信封影响响应率。调查人员可以通过在初始问卷包中包含更多的钱来提高回答率，但是在超过5美元的奖励中，连续递增的回报可能会递减。在更多的调查表中纳入较小的奖励措施可能会最大限度地增加总的答复。
BACKGROUND. The validity of the results of mailed surveys is often threatened by nonresponse bias, which is made more likely when response rates are low. However, the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of several strategies to increase response rates are uncertain.OBJECTIVES. To assess three strategies to increase response rates to mailed physician surveys: including a $10 versus a $5 cash incentive in the initial mailing, including a mint candy or not, and using a large versus small outgoing envelope.RESEARCH DESIGN AND SUBJECTS. Using a 2 X 2 X 2 factorial design, a randomized trial of these strategies was conducted in a survey of 1200 physicians randomly selected from the American Medical Association's Master File.RESULTS. Including a $10 incentive yielded a significantly higher response rate (60.5% vs. 52.8%) (P = 0.009). The mailing and incentive costs per completed response were $12.24 (95% Cl, $11.75, $13.64) in the $5 group and $18.48 (95% Cl, $17.77, $20.69) in the $10 group. Each additional response obtained in the $10 group came at an incremental cost of $61.26 (95% Cl, $36.98, $200.80). Neither inclusion of a mint nor use of a large envelope influenced the response rate.CONCLUSIONS. Investigators may increase response rates by including more money in the initial questionnaire packet, but there may be diminishing returns to serial increments in incentives greater than $5. Including smaller incentives in more questionnaires may maximize total responses.