Abstract
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders.
There continues to be a need for community-based research into this condition. Unfortunately,
response rates in community-based IBS surveys have typically been very low. In this
study, we explore the use of incentives and multiple-response options as a means of
increasing survey response rates. The study was conducted in three phases. In an initial
phase, no incentive was offered; in the second phase, a $5.00 incentive was offered;
and in the third phase, a $20.00 incentive was offered. Response rates were higher
in the incentive groups: Individual response rates were 57.9%, 72.7%, and 84.7% in
the three phases, respectively. A slightly higher estimate of IBS prevalence was obtained
in the nonincentive group. Selection bias is a possible explanation for this difference.
A decision about whether to use incentives must be based on the specific goals of
the study.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 7,
2002
Received in revised form:
July 24,
2002
Received:
December 18,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
