背景:基于Web的调查可以成为有效的数据收集工具;但是,参与率非常低,特别是医生等专业人士。很少有研究探讨不同金额的货币激励措施对调查完成的影响。
目的:本研究旨在进行一项随机研究,以评估不同的激励金额如何影响美国神经科医师的参与调查。
方法:我们使用标准化的电子邮件文本向21,753名随机分为5组(每组约4351)的个体进行了基于网络的调查。在阶段1中,每个小组被分配以10美元,20美元,50美元或75美元的礼品卡,这在电子邮件主题和文本中注明。经过4次提醒,第2阶段开始,其余每个人都获得了一张价值75美元的礼品卡以完成调查.我们计算并比较了第一阶段完成调查的比例,在激励变化之前和之后,使用卡方检验。作为次要结果,我们还研究了调查的参与程度,而不是完成情况。
结果:对于发送的20,820封电子邮件,879名(4.2%)收件人完成了调查;在879名收件人中,622名(70.8%)是神经科医师。在神经学家中,大多数是男性(412/622,66.2%),白色(430/622,69.1%),非西班牙裔(592/622,95.2%),美国医学院毕业生(465/622,74.8%),和董事会认证(598/622,96.1%)。20多年前,共有39.7%(247/622)的人完成了神经病学住院医师的工作,62.4%(388/622)在城市环境中练习。对于第一阶段,完成调查的受访者比例随着激励金额的增加而增加(46/4185,1.1%;76/4165,1.8%;86/4160,2.1%;104/4162,2.5%;119/4148,2.9%,分别为0美元、10美元、20美元、50美元和75美元;P<.001)。在第二阶段,前0美元手臂的调查完成率增加到3%(116/3928)。那些最初提供10美元,20美元,50美元和75美元的尚未参与的人与前0美元的部门相比,参与的可能性较小(116/3928,3%;90/3936,2.3%;80/3902,2.1%;88/3845,2.3%;和74/3878,1.9%,分别为0美元、10美元、20美元、50美元和75美元;P=0.03)。对于我们参与调查的次要结果,在第一阶段观察到类似于调查完成的趋势(55/4185,1.3%;85/4165,2%;96/4160,2.3%;118/4162,2.8%;135/4148,3.3%,分别为0美元、10美元、20美元、50美元和75美元;P<.001)和第二阶段(116/3928,3%;90/3936,2.3%;80/3902,2.1%;88/3845,2.3%;86/3845,2.2%,分别为0美元、10美元、20美元、50美元和75美元;P=.10)。
结论:如预期的那样,货币激励可以提高医生调查的参与度和完成度,提供的金额和参与之间呈正相关。
BACKGROUND: Web-based surveys can be effective data collection instruments; however, participation is notoriously low, particularly among professionals such as physicians. Few studies have explored the impact of varying amounts of monetary incentives on survey completion.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to conduct a randomized study to assess how different incentive amounts influenced survey participation among
neurologists in the United States.
METHODS: We distributed a web-based survey using standardized email text to 21,753 individuals randomly divided into 5 equal groups (≈4351 per group). In phase 1, each group was assigned to receive either nothing or a gift card for US $10, $20, $50, or $75, which was noted in the email subject and text. After 4 reminders, phase 2 began and each remaining individual was offered a US $75 gift card to complete the survey. We calculated and compared the proportions who completed the survey by phase 1 arm, both before and after the incentive change, using a chi-square test. As a secondary outcome, we also looked at survey participation as opposed to completion.
RESULTS: For the 20,820 emails delivered, 879 (4.2%) recipients completed the survey; of the 879 recipients, 622 (70.8%) were
neurologists. Among the
neurologists, most were male (412/622, 66.2%), White (430/622, 69.1%), non-Hispanic (592/622, 95.2%), graduates of American medical schools (465/622, 74.8%), and board certified (598/622, 96.1%). A total of 39.7% (247/622) completed their neurology residency more than 20 years ago, and 62.4% (388/622) practiced in an urban setting. For phase 1, the proportions of respondents completing the survey increased as the incentive amount increased (46/4185, 1.1%; 76/4165, 1.8%; 86/4160, 2.1%; 104/4162, 2.5%; and 119/4148, 2.9%, for US $0, $10, $20, $50, and $75, respectively; P<.001). In phase 2, the survey completion rate for the former US $0 arm increased to 3% (116/3928). Those originally offered US $10, $20, $50, and $75 who had not yet participated were less likely to participate compared with the former US $0 arm (116/3928, 3%; 90/3936, 2.3%; 80/3902, 2.1%; 88/3845, 2.3%; and 74/3878, 1.9%, for US $0, $10, $20, $50, and $75, respectively; P=.03). For our secondary outcome of survey participation, a trend similar to that of survey completion was observed in phase 1 (55/4185, 1.3%; 85/4165, 2%; 96/4160, 2.3%; 118/4162, 2.8%; and 135/4148, 3.3%, for US $0, $10, $20, $50, and $75, respectively; P<.001) and phase 2 (116/3928, 3%; 90/3936, 2.3%; 80/3902, 2.1%; 88/3845, 2.3%; and 86/3845, 2.2%, for US $0, $10, $20, $50, and $75, respectively; P=.10).
CONCLUSIONS: As expected, monetary incentives can boost physician survey participation and completion, with a positive correlation between the amount offered and participation.