Factors Associated With Response Rates in a National Survey of Primary Care Physicians

This article addresses the results and implications of offering a national sample of primary care physicians an option to complete a questionnaire by mail or phone. An overall cooperation rate of 62.7% was achieved; 55% of the interviews were completed via telephone. Noticeable differences in rate of cooperation and mode preference were observed across the four physician specialties surveyed. The importance of a lengthy field period, due to differences between early and late responders on variables important to the study, is also demonstrated.