Title
The effects of continuing medical education credits on physician response rates to a mailed questionnaire
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine
Date
May 2004
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Adult; *Education, Medical, Continuing; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; *Physicians; *Questionnaires; United States
Abstract
This study investigated whether the opportunity to obtain Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit together with a five-dollar bill increased response rates and questionnaire completion rates in a physician survey involving mailed questionnaires. One thousand, three hundred and fourteen cardiologists, family practitioners, general internists (non-surgeons) and 264 vascular surgeons randomly identified from the American Medical Association database participated. After two, of up to four, questionnaire mailings, the opportunity to obtain CME credit and a five-dollar bill were included with questionnaire mailings. Among non-surgeons, 26.5% responded to pre-incentive mailings and 30.2% of those initially unresponsive replied after the interventions. Among surgeons, 39% responded to pre-incentive mailings and 32.7% of those initially unresponsive replied after the interventions. In conclusion, the opportunity to receive CME credit combined with a small monetary incentive is an effective motivation for physicians participating in a study involving mailed questionnaires.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Health Mark Q. 2003;20(4):27-42.
Related Resources
PubMed ID
15145783
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