title: "Bird in the hand" cash was more effective than prize draws in increasing physician questionnaire response.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of two monetary incentives on response rates to postal questionnaires from primary care physicians (PCPs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The PCPs were randomized into three arms (n=550 per arm), namely (1) €5 sent with the questionnaire (cash); (2) entry into a draw on return of completed questionnaire (prize); or (3) no incentive. Effects of incentives on response rates and item nonresponse were examined, as was cost-effectiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates were significantly higher in the cash (66.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 61.9, 70.4%) and prize arms (44.8%; 95% CI: 40.1, 49.3%) compared with the no-incentive arm (39.9%; 95% CI: 35.4, 44.3%). Adjusted relative risk of response was 1.17 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.35) and 1.68 (95% CI: 1.48, 1.91) in the prize and cash arms, respectively, compared with the no-incentive group. Costs per completed questionnaire were €9.85, €11.15, and €6.31 for the cash, prize, and no-incentive arms, respectively. Compared with the no-incentive arm, costs per additional questionnaire returned in the cash and prize arms were €14.72 and €37.20, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both a modest cash incentive and entry into a prize draw were effective in increasing response rates. The cash incentive was most effective and the most cost-effective. Where it is important to maximize response, a modest cash incentive may be cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Registry, Building 6800, Airport business Park, Kinsale Road, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: f.drummond@ncri.ie.
authors.forename: Frances J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Registry, Building 6800, Airport business Park, Kinsale Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eamonn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.affiliation: J. E Cairnes School of Business & Economics, NUI Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ciaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.affiliation: J. E Cairnes School of Business & Economics, NUI Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Richeal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Registry, Building 6800, Airport business Park, Kinsale Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sharp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001363:Awards and Prizes; D005062:European Union; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010820:Physicians / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cash; Draw; Monetary incentives; Physicians; Postal questionnaire; Primary care'