FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH RESPONSE RATES IN A NATIONAL SURVEY OF PRIMARY-CARE PHYSICIANS

This article addresses the results and implications of offering a nati onal sample of primary care physicians an option to complete a questio nnaire by mail or phone. An overall cooperation rate of 62.7% was achi eved; 55% of the interviews were completed via telephone. Noticeable d ifferences in rate of cooperation and mode preference were observed ac ross the four physician specialties surveyed. The importance of a leng thy field period, due to differences between early and late responders on variables important to the study, is also demonstrated.