title: Cash incentives improve participation rate in a face-to-face survey: an intervention study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our study examined the effect of a ChinaYuan (CNY) 10 cash incentive on the participation rate in a face-to-face health survey among the general Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects older than 15 years of age and had been living in the two selected districts for more than 6 months were selected using multistage random sampling. Participants from only one district received a cash incentive (CNY 10) for completing the survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participation rates in the nonincentive and incentive groups were 39.9% and 61.2%, respectively, P < 0.01. In the nonincentive group, the 65-74 years age group had the highest participation rate (54.4%); no significant difference was found between men (39.4%) and women (40.5%), P = 0.59. In the incentive group, the highest participation rate was observed in the ≥75 years (78.1%) age group. The cost for a completed interview was CNY 34.5 in the incentive group and CNY 35.8 in the nonincentive group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cash incentives might increase participation rates in face-to-face surveys in China. The absolute cost was higher for the incentive group, whereas cost for a completed interview was actually the lowest. Furthermore, participation rate did not differ between men and women, but elders were more likely to participate in health surveys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Medical College Road, No.1, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Yuanjiagang Friendship Road, No.1, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Medical College Road, No.1, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Yuanjiagang Friendship Road, No.1, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Medical College Road, No.1, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China. Electronic address: 1097123703@qq.com.
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003625:Data Collection / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010358:Patient Participation; D012107:Research Design; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cash incentive; Chinese population; Face-to-face surveys; Health surveys; Investigations; Participation rate