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Family Practice Advance Access originally published online on November 5, 2004
Family Practice 2004 21(6):697-698; doi:10.1093/fampra/cmh620
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Family Practice Vol. 21, No. 6 © Oxford University Press 2004, all rights reserved.

Short report: Encouraging GPs to complete postal questionnaires—one big prize or many small prizes? A randomized controlled trial

CE Thomsona, S Paterson-Brownb, D Russellc, D McCaldina and IT Russellc

a Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Queen Margaret University College, b Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary Edinburgh and c Institute of Medical and Social Care Research, University of Wales Bangor, UK

Correspondence to Colin E Thomson, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Queen Margaret University College, Duke Street, Edinburgh EH6 8HF, UK; Email: cthomson{at}qmuc.ac.uk

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.

Keywords. General practice, incentives, postal surveys, response rates.


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This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eval Health ProfHome page
J. B. VanGeest, T. P. Johnson, and V. L. Welch
Methodologies for Improving Response Rates in Surveys of Physicians: A Systematic Review
Eval Health Prof, December 1, 2007; 30(4): 303 - 321.
[Abstract] [PDF]


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