Effect of prize draw incentive on the response rate to a postal survey of obstetricians and gynaecologists: a randomised controlled trial. [ISRCTN32823119].
BACKGROUND
Response rates to postal questionnaires are falling and this threatens the external validity of survey findings. We wanted to establish whether the incentive of being entered into a prize draw to win a personal digital assistant (PDA) would increase the response rate for a national survey of consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists.


METHODS
A randomised controlled trial was conducted. This involved sending a postal questionnaire to all Consultant Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the United Kingdom. Recipients were randomised to receiving a questionnaire offering a prize draw incentive (on response) or no such incentive.


RESULTS
The response rate for recipients offered the prize incentive was 64% (461/716) and 62% (429/694) in the no incentive group (relative rate of response 1.04, 95% CI 0.96 - 1.13)


CONCLUSIONS
The offer of a prize draw incentive to win a PDA did not significantly increase response rates to a national questionnaire survey of consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists.
Moses
Sharon H
SH
Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Worcester WR5 1DD UK. smoses@doctors.org.uk
Clark
T Justin
TJ
D034201:Computers, Handheld; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000191:economics*; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009042:Motivation; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000191:economics*; D010816:Physician Incentive Plans / Q000191:economics*; D011177:Postal Service; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012201:Reward; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom