title: Effectiveness of monetary incentives for recruiting adolescents to an intervention trial to reduce smoking.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study objective is to evaluate the effect of monetary incentives on response rates of adolescents to a smoking-related survey as the first step toward participation in an intervention trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 4,200 adolescent members of a managed care organization were randomized to one of four incentive groups: a $2 cash group, a $15 cash group, a $200 prize drawing group, or a no-incentive group. We compared group-specific response rates and willingness to be contacted about future study activities, as well as costs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incentives increased survey response rates (55% response without incentive vs. a 69% response with incentive), with response of 74% in the $15 cash group, 69% in the token group, and 63% with a prize incentive. Incentives did not adversely affect willingness of adolescents to be contacted about a smoking intervention, (65% willing with incentives vs. 60% without, P = 0.03). In terms of cost per additional survey completed, token and prize groups were marginally more expensive than the no-incentive group ($0.40 and $1.42, respectively) while the large cash incentive was substantially more costly ($11.37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monetary incentives improve response rates to a mailed survey, without adverse impact on willingness to further participate in intervention activities. However, a variety of issues must be considered when using incentives for recruitment to intervention studies.
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Research Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-1524, USA. Brian.C.Martinson@HealthPartners.com
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Martinson
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lazovich
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Lando
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: McGovern
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D009042:Motivation; D018579:Patient Selection; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention