Improving response rates among doctors: randomised trial

Impact of Pharmaceutical Industry Versus University Sponsorship on Survey Response: A Randomized Trial among Canadian Hepatitis C Care Providers

“…In the single trial (16) involving only physicians, the odds of a response were actually lower in the group receiving a university versus a cancer agency-sponsored survey (OR=0.67; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.93). To our knowledge, our study is the first of its kind to assess the impact of pharmaceutical industry sponsorship, specifically, on survey responses from health care providers.…”

Conducting research in general practice: lessons learnt from experience

“…Having the research project 'auspiced' by the local Division and/or well regarded national or local opinion leaders may enhance engagement by practitioners 8,22 who may otherwise be sceptical of becoming involved in a collaborative research project. 28 Choose agencies that have a philosophy congruent with that of your research purpose (for example, the Public Health Association of Australia, Australian Health Promotion Association, National Heart Foundation).…”

“…23,36 As identified by Pierce, 11 differences between health care professionals who consent to participate in or to facilitate research in their setting and those who do not may distort the conclusions and prevent the results being generalisable, and also affect the patients that they recruit. 19,24,28 There are mixed findings with regard to GP response bias for research projects, with some researchers stating that response bias among GPs is minimal 39 and others the opposite. 10,24…”