Remuneration for Survey Participation

[A Former User]

I just came across this invitation from a research team at McMaster: "You are invited to participate in a research study entitled: PAInED: Perceptions of Acute care providers In the Emergency Department."

Respondents are asked for 20 minutes of their time to fill out a research survey on treatment of persons with chronic pain who present at emergency departments.

Purpose and Objective of Research:

•Examine differences between acute care providers in their attitudes toward chronic pain
•Examine difference between care providers in their comfort and familiarity with treating chronic pain in the ED
•Determine how care provider demographics affect additional investigations ordered and type of analgesia provided

It's intended for professionals, although I think the wording could confuse a person accompanying a family member with chronic pain who ends up in an emergency waiting room. I guess I also imagine it would be interesting to ask patients and family what they think of their clinical reception at emergency.

What first struck my eye was the tantalizing offer of a draw for a $250 Amazon gift card. I don't think I've ever been offered anything to fill out a survey intended for patients and family members.

How does offering a reward reflect on a reluctance or willingness to participate (pt vs clinician)?

How would patients and family members feel about such an offer?

Does this type of compensation (the chance to win) align with participation?

I've seen door prizes used to boost attendance, or ensure that people stay through to the end, at Grand Rounds (educational meetings for clinicians) and at professional conferences. It's always struck me as tainted somehow and inconsistent with the high-minded dedication I think medical professionals ought to have that rises way above token rewards.

And maybe the other side is my occasional defensiveness as a "pure" volunteer, unsullied by cash or token payoffs? Don't patients and family members offer their ideas out of an altruistic motivation, not self-interest? Some of us would refuse to be paid for our input into better care for fear it would indicate some sort of bias. And maybe it would be uncomfortable or feel unfair for me to win and not you and all the other participants who contributed equally?

Just wondering what you think!