Report of tests of strategies to increase response rates from physicians

This paper discusses in detail issues dealing with the technical aspects of designing and conducting surveys. It is intended for an audience of survey methodologists.

This paper describes the methods used to increase the response rates of a generalist and specialist physician survey. The means of delivery (regular versus priority mail) and notification of inclusion in a draw for cash prizes were randomized using a 2 x 2 factorial design. While neither priority delivery nor notification of a cash prize sufficiently overcame whatever obstacles exist in this population, both approaches had a positive, though limited, effect on the response rate of the physicians. However, a subsequent mailing of a prepaid cash incentive (delivered by courier) was particularly effective in increasing the representation of the generalist subsample.