title: Getting physicians to respond: the impact of incentive type and timing on physician survey response rates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of payment timing, form of payment, and requiring a social security number (SSN) on survey response rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Third-wave mailing of a U.S. physician survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonrespondents were randomized to receive immediate U.S.$25 cash, immediate U.S.$25 check, promised U.S.$25 check, or promised U.S.$25 check requiring an SSN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paper survey responses were double entered into statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates differed significantly between remuneration groups (χ(3) (2) = 80.1, p<.0001), with the highest rate in the immediate cash group (34 percent), then immediate check (20 percent), promised check (10 percent), and promised check with SSN (8 percent).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immediate monetary incentives yield higher response rates than promised in this population of nonresponding physicians. Promised incentives yield similarly low response rates regardless of whether an SSN is requested.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. james.katherine@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Jeanette Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ziegenfuss
authors.forename: Jon C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tilburt
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Beebe
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States