@Article{info:doi/10.2196/54343,
author="Hawa, Saadiya
and Bane, Shalmali
and Kinsler, Kayla
and Rector, Amadeia
and Chaichian, Yashaar
and Falasinnu, Titilola
and Simard, Julia F",
title="Impact of Incentives on Physician Participation in Research Surveys: Randomized Experiment",
journal="JMIR Form Res",
year="2024",
month="May",
day="14",
volume="8",
pages="e54343",
keywords="internet survey; incentive; physician recruitment; internet surveys; online survey; online surveys; web-based survey; web-based surveys; survey; surveys; incentives; monetary incentive; monetary incentives; physician participation; physician participant; physician participants; physician; physicians; doctor participation; doctor participant; doctor participants; doctor; doctors; neurologist; neurologists",
abstract="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. ",
issn="2561-326X",
doi="10.2196/54343",
url="https://formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e54343",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/54343",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38743466"
}