Gift Voucher Research Articles

Evaluation of Financial Interventions in Breast Cancer Care Worldwide: A Systematic Review.

Out-of-pocket costs are burdensome for breast cancer patients. Cost-reducing interventions, though implemented, have unclear comparative efficacy. This study aimed to critically evaluate characteristics of successful versus unsuccessful interventions designed to decrease out-of-pocket costs for breast cancer patients. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA checklist. Embase, PubMed, Global Index Medicus, and Global Health were queried from inception to February 2021. Articles describing a financial intervention targeting costs for breast cancer screening, diagnosis, or treatment and addressing clinical or patient-level financial outcomes were included. Methodological quality was evaluated using the QualSyst tool. Interventions were organized in accordance with timing of implementation, with narrative description of intervention type, success, and outcomes. Of the 11,086 articles retrieved, 21 were included in this review. Of these, 14 consisted of interventions during screening, and seven during diagnosis or treatment. Free/subsidized screening mammography was the most common screening intervention; 91% of these programs documented successful outcomes. Patient navigation and gift voucher programs demonstrated mixed success. The most successful intervention implemented during diagnosis/treatment was reducing medication costs. Low-cost programs and direct patient financial assistance were also successful. Limitations included lack of standardization in outcome metrics across studies. Financial interventions reducing prices through free screening mammography and decreasing medication costs were most successful. Less successful interventions were not contextually tailored, including gift card incentivization and low-cost treatment modalities. These findings can facilitate implementation of broader, more generalizable programs to reduce costs and improve outcomes during evaluation and management of breast cancer.

Conditional versus non-conditional incentives to maximise return of participant completed questionnaires in clinical trials: a cluster randomised study within a trial

BackgroundHigh participant retention enhances the validity of clinical trials. A monetary incentive can increase retention, but it is not known if when it is provided and if it is conditional matters. We aimed to determine whether there was a difference in the number of follow-up trial questionnaires returned when a monetary (gift voucher) incentive was given to participants at recruitment (non-conditional), compared to informing participants at recruitment that the incentive would be given only once their 14-day daily diary (questionnaire) had been returned (conditional).MethodA cluster randomised study within a trial embedded within the Antivirals for influenza-Like Illness, An rCt of Clinical and Cost effectiveness in primary CarE (ALIC4E) Trial. Matched site pairs (GP practices) were randomised using computer-generated random numbers, to either a non-conditional or conditional monetary voucher incentive (only once their 14-day daily diary (questionnaire) had been returned. Sites were matched on previous recruitment levels and practice list size. Analyses were conducted according to randomised groups irrespective of compliance with a two-sided 5% level statistical significance level. The main analysis of the primary outcome (site proportion of diaries returned) was linear regression accounting for site pair (using cluster-robust variance). Additional weighted, paired and non-parametric sensitivity analyses were conducted. Secondary outcomes were the site average number of completed pages, time to return diary, and cost related to the incentive (administration and postage).ResultsOf the 42 randomised sites (21 for each intervention), only 28 recruited at least one participant with only 10 practice pairs recruiting participants at both constituent sites. Raw diaries return proportions were 0.58 (127/220) and 0.73 (91/125) for non-conditional and conditional incentive groups. Regression analysis adjusted for site pair showed no significant difference in returns, − 0.09, (95% CI, − 0.29, 0.10, p = 0.34); when weighted, there was still no clear difference: 0.15 (95% CI, − 0.02, 0.31, p = 0.07). There was no clear statistical evidence of a difference in time taken to return questionnaires, nor the proportion of pages completed, by the intervention group in the main analyses (all p > 0.05). The conditional incentive was approximately £23 cheaper per diary returned based upon observed data.ConclusionThere was no clear evidence of a statistically significant difference in the proportion of participant-completed diaries returned between conditional or non-conditional incentive groups. The time to questionnaire return and completeness of the returned questionnaires were similar in both groups. There was substantial statistical uncertainty in the findings. Some of the sensitivity analyses suggested that a meaningful benefit of a conditional incentive of a magnitude that would be meaningful was plausible. The conditional approach costs less in cash terms.

Experiences of goal planning in Australian community pharmacy settings for people experiencing mental illness: A qualitative study.

Person-centred goal planning is increasingly being incorporated into healthcare interventions. People experiencing severe and persistent mental illnesses (SPMIs) have high levels of co-occurring health conditions, reducing their life expectancy when compared with the general population. As medications are commonly used in the treatment of SPMIs, community pharmacists are well-placed to support the health and wellbeing of this population. To examine pharmacists' and service users' experiences of goal planning as a component of a community pharmacy-based health intervention for people experiencing SPMIs (PharMIbridge intervention). This study utilised a qualitative exploratory approach with an interpretive description method. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with community pharmacists (n = 16) and service user participants (n = 26) who had participated in pharmacist support services for people experiencing SPMIs (PharMIbridge intervention). Four themes relating to goal planning were identified. First, goal planning provided purpose and motivation for participation in the intervention. Planning realistic goals was important but often challenging. Both pharmacists and service users highlighted the relational aspects of goal planning and how strong relationships supported positive behaviour change and outcomes. Finally, individualised and flexible approaches were important aspects of the intervention, ensuring goals were meaningful to service users. The findings from this study identified positive outcomes from the inclusion of goal-planning processes in a community pharmacy-based health intervention. Further research regarding tools, strategies or training that could support future goal-planning interventions in primary healthcare is needed. The PharMIbridge randomised controlled trial research team included lived experience members and was overseen by an expert panel that included members with a lived experience of mental illness and representatives from key organisations. The training provided to pharmacists was co-designed and co-delivered by the researchers and lived experience representatives, and pharmacists were supported by lived experience mentors. Service user participants were invited to participate in the interviews through a number of pathways (e.g., at the completion of the intervention, flyers). Those interested were provided with the full study participant information and provided with a $30 gift voucher at the conclusion of the interview.

'Getting the vaccine makes me a champion of it': Exploring perceptions towards peer-to-peer communication about the COVID-19 vaccines amongst Australian adults.

Peer-to-peer communication approaches have been previously described as the 'power of personal referral'. Rather than relying on official channels of information, peer-to-peer communication may have a role in supporting changes in understanding and possibly behaviours. However, in emergency or pandemic situations, there is currently limited understanding of whether community members feel comfortable speaking about their vaccine experiences or advocating to others. This study explored the perceptions of COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated Australian adults regarding their preferences and opinions about peer-peer communication and other vaccine communication strategies. Qualitative interview research. In-depth interviews were conducted in September 2021 with 41 members of the Australian community. Thirty-three participants self-identified as being vaccinated against COVID-19, while the remainder were not vaccinated at the time or did not intend on receiving a COVID vaccine. Amongst those who were vaccinated, participants spoke about being willing to promote the vaccine and correct misinformation and felt empowered following their vaccination. They highlighted the importance of peer-to-peer communication and community messaging, expressing the need for both strategies in an immunisation promotional campaign, with a slight emphasis on the persuasive power of communication between family and friends. However,those who were unvaccinated tended to dismiss the role of community messaging, commenting on a desire not to be like one of the many who listened to the advice of others. During emergency situations, governments and other relevant community organisations should consider harnessing peer-to-peer communication amongst motivated individuals as a health communication intervention. However further work is needed to understand the support that this constituent-involving strategy requires. Participants were invited to participate through a series of online promotional pathways including emails and social media posts. Those who completed the expression of interest and met the study criteria were contacted and sent the full study participant information documentation. A time for a 30 min semi-structured interview was set and provided with a $50 gift voucher at the conclusion.

Arsitektur Strategi Bisnis Dokumentasi Pernikahan Pada Iphotobride Wedding

This study aimed to formulate a wedding documentation business strategy that can be applied to Iphotobride companies. Respondents in this study consisted of 8 consumer respondents who were selected using purposive sampling, 5 internal companies and 3 company partners from 2019 to 2021. This type of research used descriptive qualitative methods with analysis of Business Development Strategies using IFE, EFE, IE matrix, SWOT and QSPM. The results showed that Iphotobride had an IFE score of 3,130 and an EFE score of 2,413. In the IE matrix mapping, Iphotobride is in the Grow and Build position. The strategies that can be carried out by Iphotobride are backward, forward, horizontal integration, market penetration, market development, and product development. The alternative strategies obtained are influencer endorsement (collaboration with influencers), increase management ability to collaborate with some wedding vendors, product differentiation and services with competitors, injection of capital loans by Investors/Banks. The suggested priority strategy is to improve management's ability to collaborate with some wedding vendors and differentiate service products with competitors. Strategic architecture that Iphotobride might implement or run to become a competency in the future is to make an all in wedding service package, or "gift voucher" for potential consumers who use Iphotobride's services on their wedding day. Keywords: architecture strategy, EFE matrix, IFE matrix, SWOT, QSPM

When coaching is a calling: A moderated mediating model among school sports coaches

Introduction Drawing on the Job Demands-Resources Model, the present study examined the relationships among the job control, calling, work engagement, and job performance of sports coaches. Methods With a cross-sectional study design, we enrolled 278 school sports coaches as participants and adopted questionnaires to collect data. Self-reported data on demographics, job control, calling, work engagement, and job performance were collected from participants. We posted recruitment posters at the sports seminars/workshops for coaches and distributed an informed consent form and a questionnaire to coaches who were willing to participate in our study. Participants received an NT$100 gift voucher after they had filled out the questionnaire. Descriptive analyses (e.g., means, standard deviations, and correlations among focal variables, etc.), reliability and validity analysis, and a series of hierarchical regression analyses to test the hypotheses were adopted in this study. Results Job control is positively associated with job performance through work engagement. Further, the moderated mediation model demonstrated that job control has a stronger positive correlation with work engagement and job performance, especially when sports coaches possess higher levels of calling. Conclusion The current findings suggest that job control is a critical antecedent of job performance through work engagement and that a higher level of calling strengthens the relationship. We suggest that crafting an autonomy-supportive working environment will help empower sports coaches to set goals and become involved, which in turn supports sports coaches in achieving their goals and produces better individual/team performance.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of an incentive strategy on the questionnaire response rate in parents of premature babies: a randomised controlled Study Within A Trial (SWAT) nested within SIFT

BackgroundLoss to follow-up resulting in missing outcomes compromises the validity of trial results by reducing statistical power, negatively affecting generalisability and undermining assumptions made at analysis, leading to potentially biased and misleading results. Evidence that incentives are effective at improving response rates exists, but there is little evidence regarding the best approach, especially in the field of perinatal medicine. The NIHR-funded SIFT trial follow-up of infants at 2 years of age provided an ideal opportunity to address this remaining uncertainty.MethodsParticipants: parents of infants from participating neonatal units in the UK and Ireland followed up for SIFT (multicentre RCT investigating two speeds of feeding in babies with gestational age at birth < 32 weeks and/or birthweight < 1500 g). Interventions: parents were randomly allocated to receive incentives (£15 gift voucher) before or after questionnaire return. The objective was to establish whether offering an unconditional incentive in advance or promising an incentive on completion of a questionnaire (conditional) improved the response rate in parents of premature babies. The primary outcome was questionnaire response rate. Permuted block randomisation was performed (variable size blocks), stratified by SIFT allocation (slower/faster feeds) and single/multiple birth. Multiple births were given the same incentives allocation. Parents were unaware that they were in an incentives SWAT; SIFT office staff were not blinded to allocation.ResultsParents of 923 infants were randomised: 459 infants allocated to receive incentive before, 464 infants allocated to receive incentive after; analysis was by intention to treat. Allocation to the incentive before completion led to a significantly higher response rate, 83.0% (381/459) compared to the after-completion group, 76.1% (353/464); adjusted absolute difference of 6.8% (95% confidence interval 1.6% to 12.0%). Giving an incentive in advance is the more costly approach, but the mean difference of ~£3 per infant is small given the higher return.ConclusionsAn unconditional incentive in advance led to a significantly higher response rate compared to the promise of an incentive on completion. Against a backdrop of falling response rates to questionnaires, incentives can be an effective way to increase returns.Trial registrationSIFT (ISRCTN76463425). Registered on March 5, 2013.; SWAT registration (SWAT 69 available from http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/TheNorthernIrelandNetworkforTrialsMethodologyResearch/FileStore/Filetoupload,864297,en.pdf). Registered on June 27, 2016.

Consent to data linkage in a large online epidemiological survey of 18\u201323\u2009year old Australian women in 2012\u201313

BackgroundConsent to link survey data with health-related administrative datasets is increasingly being sought but little is known about the influence of recruiting via online technologies on participants’ consents. The goal of this paper is to examine what factors (sociodemographic, recruitment, incentives, data linkage information, health) are associated with opt-in consent to link online survey data to administrative datasets (referred to as consent to data linkage).MethodsThe Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health is a prospective study of factors affecting the health and well-being of women. We report on factors associated with opt-in consent to data linkage at the end of an online survey of a new cohort of 18–23 year old Australian women recruited in 2012–13. Classification and Regression Tree analysis with decision trees was used to predict consent.ResultsIn this study 69% consented to data linkage. The provision of residential address by the individual, or not (as a measure of attitudes towards privacy), was the most important factor in classifying the data into similar groups of consenters (76% consenters versus 47% respectively). Thereafter, for those who did not provide their residential address, the incentives and data linkage information that was offered was the next most important factor, with incentive 2: limited-edition designer leggings and additional information about confidentiality showing increases in consent rates over Incentive 1: AUD50 gift voucher: 60% versus 37%.ConclusionsIn young Australian women, attitudes towards privacy was strongly associated with consenting to data linkage. Providing additional details about data confidentiality was successful in increasing consent and so was cohort appropriate incentives. Ensuring that prospective participants understand the consent and privacy protocols in place to protect their confidential information builds confidence in consenting to data linkage.

Unconditional and conditional monetary incentives to increase response to mailed questionnaires: A randomized controlled study within a trial (SWAT).

High response rates to research questionnaires can help to ensure results are more representative of the population studied and provide increased statistical power, on which the study may have been predicated. Improving speed and quality of response can reduce costs. We conducted a randomized study within a trial (SWAT) to assess questionnaire response rates, reminders sent, and data completeness with unconditional compared with conditional monetary incentives. Eligible individuals were mailed a series of psychological questionnaires as a follow-up to a baseline host trial questionnaire. Half received a £5 gift voucher with questionnaires (unconditional), and half were promised the voucher after returning questionnaires (conditional). Of 1079 individuals, response rates to the first follow-up questionnaire were 94.2% and 91.7% in the unconditional and conditional monetary incentive groups, respectively (OR 1.78; 95% CI, 0.85-3.72). There were significantly greater odds of returning repeat questionnaires in the unconditional group at 6 months (OR 2.97; 95% CI, 1.01-8.71; .047) but not at 12 months (OR 1.12; 95% CI, 0.44-2.85). Incentive condition had no impact at any time point on the proportion of sent questionnaires that needed reminders. Odds of incomplete questionnaires were significantly greater at 3 months in the unconditional compared with the conditional incentive group (OR 2.45; 95% CI, 1.32-4.55; .004). Unconditional monetary incentives can produce a transitory greater likelihood of mailed questionnaire response in a clinical trial participant group, consistent with the direction of effect in other settings. However, this could have been a chance finding. The use of multiple strategies to promote response may have created a ceiling effect. This strategy has potential to reduce administrative and postage costs, weighed against the cost of incentives used, but could risk compromising the completeness of data.

PO 7139 CONDITIONAL ECONOMIC INCENTIVES AND MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING TO IMPROVE ADOLESCENTS’ RETENTION AND ADHERENCE TO ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY IN NIGERIA: ARA TRIAL

BackgroundAdolescent HIV patients have worse treatment outcomes compared to other age groups given their vulnerability to risk-taking behaviour. Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of service delivery interventions to support adolescents’ retention in care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The ARA trial tackles this challenge by evaluating the impact of conditional economic incentives coupled with motivational interviewing on adolescents’ retention in care and adherence to ART in Anambra State, Nigeria.MethodsThe study will be a cluster-randomised, controlled trial conducted in 12 HIV treatment hospitals in Anambra State, Nigeria. Six (6) hospitals each will be randomised to either intervention or control arm. A structured adherence support scheme, termed the Incentive Scheme, will be applied to the intervention hospitals while the control hospitals will receive routine HIV care. Additionally, patients in the intervention arm will receive motivational interviewing at baseline and following initiation of ART, they will receive a gift voucher of Nigerian Naira (NGN) 2000 when viral load (VL) is &lt;20 copies/mL at 12 weeks, gift voucher of NGN 1000 if the VL remains suppressed for the next 3 months, and the next 6 months, and finally gift voucher of NGN 2000 if the VL remains &lt;20 copies/mL at 1 year. All gift vouchers will be conditional not only on VL results but also on attending for motivational interviewing. The primary outcome for the trial will be the difference between groups in the proportion to HIV viral load suppression (≤20 copies/mL) by 12 months and then 24 months after withdrawal of the Incentive Scheme.ResultsThe protocol for ARA trial and planned activities is finalised. Application for approval for the trial is on-going.ConclusionThe proposed trial will provide evidence on the feasibility of applying the Incentive Scheme to improve retention and adherence to ART of adolescents living with HIV.

Saudi University Students Views, Perceptions, and Future intentions towards E-books

While observing the rapid growth in the field of e-learning, the present research aims to provide an experiential insight into the use of e-books, documenting its benefits, issues and future prospects. For this purpose, the researchers used their own eBook "Education Technology: Foundations and Applications" as the research instrument and evaluate the perceptions, feelings, and views of the education technology course students in Saudi University, in order to understand the importance of using eBooks for educational purposes. The eBook was designed as an interactive app which was provided to 27 students who purchased it using a gift voucher. They were asked to study from the provided eBook throughout the semester. At the end of their semester, a discussion group was held. The discussion group concludes that almost all of the students found the use of eBook for an educational purpose quite beneficial as they believe it is much cheaper, portable and easily accessible from any place and at any point in time. Some of the participants may have found issues with the usage such as no copy paste options, etc.; however, the majority of them intended to use eBooks in future if the characteristics and features of the eBooks are same as this book.

Conditional economic incentives and motivational interviewing to improve adolescents\u2019 retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Southeast Nigeria: study protocol for a cluster randomised trial

BackgroundAdolescent HIV patients face enormous difficulty in accessing HIV care services. Given their vulnerability to risk-taking behaviour, this group also have worse treatment outcomes compared to other age groups. Poor treatment outcomes will impact negatively on HIV/AIDS management and control particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) as more than eight out of ten of the world’s HIV-infected adolescents live in this region of the world. Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of service delivery interventions to support adolescents’ retention on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and adherence to ART. This trial is designed to evaluate the impact of conditional economic incentive and motivational interviewing on adolescents’ retention in HIV care and adherence to ART in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria.Methods/designThe study will be a cluster randomised controlled trial that will be conducted in selected HIV treatment hospitals in Anambra State, Nigeria. Based on sample size calculation, 12 HIV treatment hospitals from Anambra will be selected for the study. Six HIV treatment hospitals each will be randomised to either the intervention or the control arm. A structured adherence support scheme termed the ‘Incentive Scheme’ will be applied to the intervention arm while the control arm will receive routine HIV care (usual care). Additionally, patients in the intervention arm will receive motivational interviewing at baseline and following initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), they will receive a gift voucher of US$5.6 when HIV viral load (VL) is < 20 copies/mL at 12 weeks, a gift voucher of US$2.8 if the VL remains suppressed for the next 3 months, and the next 6 months, and finally a gift voucher of US$5.6 if the VL remains < 20 copies/mL at 1 year. All gift vouchers will be conditional not only on VL results but attending the motivational interviews. The primary outcome for the trial will be the difference between groups in the proportion with HIV VL suppression (≤ 20 copies/mL) by 12 months and then 24 months after withdrawal of incentive.DiscussionThe findings of this proposed trial will provide evidence on the feasibility of applying conditional economic incentives combined with motivational interviewing to improve retention and adherence to antiretroviral therapy of adolescents living with HIV in Nigeria and possibly in other sub-Saharan African countries.Trial registrationRegistered in the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry, ID: PACTR201806003040425. Registered on 2 February 2018.

The effects of interpersonal attraction on service justice

PurposeThis study aims to examine the effects of physical attraction, social attraction and task attraction, which are interpersonal attraction components of service staff, on interactional justice, procedural justice and distributive justice, all of which are components of service justice.Design/methodology/approachThis study was conducted after deriving measurement tools through two preliminary studies. The research sample was made by those who have visited the restaurant where the service staff provides services directly to the customers. Respondents were instructed by investigators to complete the questionnaire based on their most recent visit to the most visited restaurants in the past three months. They received a $5 gift voucher after completing the questionnaire.FindingsPhysical attraction negatively affected interactional justice, procedural justice and distributive justice. Social attraction had a negative impact on procedural justice. Task attraction had the greatest positive impact on all service justice factors.Practical implicationsTo attract customers’ positive perceptions of service execution and outcomes, task attraction should be considered first rather than physical attraction and social attraction of service staff.Originality/valueThis study expanded the scope of research on interpersonal attraction by studying physical attraction, social attraction and task attraction as interpersonal attraction factors at service encounters, and on service justice by setting the interpersonal attraction as a variable affecting service justice.

Prosocial Compensation Following a Service Failure: Fulfilling an Organization\u2019s Ethical and Philanthropic Responsibilities

Prosocial compensation (PC) is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice that involves donating money to a charitable cause on behalf of customers as a means to compensate them for their loss after a service failure. In order to determine the effectiveness of PC, we carried out three experiments while also comparing its effectiveness within private and public settings. Experiment 1 focused on the signaling effects of communicating the promise to offer PC to potential customers in the event of service failure. Results show that, in both private and public settings, PC has positive effects on corporate image, credibility, and word-of-mouth intent. More significantly, PC improved one’s CSR image, whereas more tangible compensation, such as a gift voucher, did not. Experiments 2A and 2B focused on the effects of offering PC after a service failure on perceptions of justice. Results show that PC contributes to perceived distributive justice, procedural justice, and post-recovery satisfaction in both private and public settings. Our study showed that PC could be a relevant new CSR practice for organizations wanting to enhance theirs CSR image while contributing to fulfilling their ethical and philanthropic CSR responsibilities. We discuss the implications of our findings and offer several avenues for follow-up research on this initial study on PC.

2460 Qualitative study of obesity risk perception, knowledge, and behavior among Hispanic taxi drivers in New York

2460 Qualitative study of obesity risk perception, knowledge, and behavior among Hispanic taxi drivers in New York

Comparing Children’s Memories for Negative Versus Positive Events in the Context of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

How well children remember negative events is not fully understood. Previous research has failed to simultaneously test memory and perceptions of memory for both negative and positive events. Children (n = 38, 7–17 years) recruited from a hospital following accidental injury were tested for their memory of an injury-producing accident (negative event) and a positive event (unexpectedly receiving a $50 gift voucher). Objective accuracy of memory, memory quality characteristics (e.g., how coherently the event was recalled), children’s judgments of their memory (meta-cognitive), and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms were assessed 2 months post-injury. Children’s memories for their experiences were verified using witness/parent reports. Memory quality characteristics of children’s free recollection were coded with a previously used standardized system. Overall, children showed high levels of accuracy for both events, with little degradation over time. High PTS children showed little evidence of deficits in coherence or organization in their narratives relative to low PTS children. Although in some instances high PTS children judged their memory quality to be poor compared to low PTS children, this depended on how this was assessed (e.g., self-report questionnaire vs. coded narratives). In terms of limitations, it is unclear whether the findings will generalize for memories of repeated events. Witness verification of the accident details itself could be prone to error. In conclusion, the findings are broadly supportive of the proposal made by theorists who argue that trauma memories are recalled no less accurately than other distinctive memories. The role of meta-cognitive elements of children’s memory and reporting in PTS is less clear.

Meeting the Needs of Mothers During the Postpartum Period: Using Co-Creation Workshops to Find Technological Solutions.

BackgroundThe postnatal period is associated with many new needs for mothers.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to find technological solutions that meet the needs of mothers during the year following childbirth.MethodsTwo co-creation workshops were undertaken with parents and professionals. The aim of the first workshop was to create a list of all the criteria the proposed solution would have to address to meet the needs of mothers after childbirth. The aim of the second workshop was to create solutions in response to the criteria selected during the first workshop.ResultsParents and health professionals want solutions that include empathy (ie, to help fight against the feelings of abnormality and loneliness), that help mothers in daily life, that are personalized and adapted to different situations, that are educational, and that assures some continuity in their contact with health professionals. In practice, we found that parents and professionals think the solution should be accessible to everyone and available at all times. To address these criteria, technology experts proposed different solutions, such as a forum dedicated to the postpartum period that is supervised by professionals, a centralized website, a system of videoconferencing, an online exchange group, a “gift voucher” system, a virtual reality app, or a companion robot.ConclusionsThe human component seems to be very important during the postnatal period. Nevertheless, technology could be a great ally in helping mothers during the postpartum period. Technology can help reliably inform parents and may also give them the right tools to find supportive people. However, these technologies should be tested in clinical trials.

Strategies to improve response rates to patient reported outcome measures in a surgical RCT

Difficulties achieving high response rates to patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) within clinical trials are well recognised. The NIHR HTA funded eTHoS trial, which compares Stapled Haemorrhoidopexy with Traditional Haemorrhoidectomy for the treatment of grade II-IV haemorrhoids, is no exception. Early response rates to postal PROMs on quality of life (distributed at 12 and 24 months post-randomisation) showed that their return was only 67% (112/166). Over the period of the study various methods have been employed to improve response rates including monetary incentives. The current literature base suggests that that this may improve such responses. High value incentives may have a greater overall effect than lower value incentives, however evidence from RCTs is limited. We examined whether introducing monetary incentives affected response rates in a subset of the eTHoS cohort. Two monetary incentive studies were conducted. In the first, participants (n=326) were randomly allocated to one of 4 groups: 1) no incentive; 2) £5 gift voucher enclosed with 12 and 24 month questionnaires; 3) £5 gift voucher at 12 months only; 4) £5 gift voucher at 24 months only. In the second (ongoing), participants are sent a £30 gift voucher on receipt of completed questionnaires (12 and 24 months). We will present the results from both studies. In addition, other methods adopted by the trial team, such as a shortened reminder questionnaire, enabling participants to complete questionnaires online, and administering a study newsletter one week before the 12 and 24 month questionnaires were sent will be discussed.

The effect of timing of incentive payments on response rates for cohort study telephone interviews in primary care setting with cost-minimization analysis, a randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundThe effect of timing of incentive payments on the response rate of telephone surveys is unknown. This study examined whether up-front or delayed incentive payments were associated with higher response rates for participation in a telephone interview administered longitudinal cohort study amongst primary care patients with lower urinary tract symptoms, and to compare the costs between the two timing methods.MethodsThis study was conducted as part of a naturalistic observation study on the health-related quality of life and health outcomes of Chinese primary care patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. The incentive payment was in the form of a supermarket gift voucher to the value of HD$50 (US$6.50) and could be used in lieu of cash at a major supermarket chain.720 subjects with lower urinary tract symptoms were randomly assigned into two groups. One group was offered an incentive of supermarket cash voucher at time of recruitment (‘up-front’ payment). The other group was told that the voucher would be sent to them after the complete of their 1-year follow-up telephone interview (‘delayed’ payment). Primary outcomes were the baseline and 1-year follow-up telephone survey response rates.ResultsThere was no statistical difference in response rates at baseline (p-value = 0.938) or at the 1-year follow-up (p-value = 0.751) between groups. Cost per completed subject interviews for the up-front payment method was USD16.64, whilst cost for the delayed payment was USD 13.85.ConclusionsIt appears the timing of incentive payments does not affect response rates for telephone interview surveys conducted on primary care patients in Hong Kong at baseline or at 1-year follow-up. Delayed incentive payments can reduce the overall cost per successful case.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02307929 Registered 28 August 2013

PTU-225 Strategies to improve response rates to patient reported outcome measures in a surgical rct

<h3>Introduction</h3> Difficulties achieving high response rates to patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) within clinical research are well recognised. The eTHoS trial, which compares Stapled Haemorrhoidopexy with Traditional Haemorrhoidectomy for the treatment of grade II-IV haemorrhoids, is no exception. Early response rates to postal PROMs on quality of life (distributed at 12 and 24 months post-randomisation) showed that their return was respectively only 67% (112/166) and 45% (5/11). Monetary incentives may improve such responses.¹High value incentives may have a greater overall effect than lower value incentives,²however evidence from RCTs is limited. We examined whether introducing monetary incentives affected response rates from subsequent postal PROMs in a subset of the eTHoS cohort. <h3>Method</h3> Two studies were conducted. In the first (which began in June 2013), participants (n = 326) were randomly allocated to one of 4 groups: 1) no incentive; 2) £5 gift voucher enclosed with 12 and 24 month questionnaires; 3) £5 gift voucher at 12 months only; 4) £5 gift voucher at 24 months only. In the second, participants are sent a £30 gift voucher on receipt of completed questionnaires (12 and /or 24 months). This study began in October 2014 and is expected to run until end of eTHoS follow up (June 2016). At the time of study design (July 2014), the 24 month postal PROMs response rate was 60% (with 440 patients yet to reach 24 months). Primary analyses for our first study examined effects of a £5 gift voucher incentive at 12 and/or 24 months on response rates to postal PROMs. A secondary analysis will examine a non-randomised comparison on response rates of incentives vs. no incentives. For study 2, primary analyses will examine the effect of a £30 gift voucher at 12 and/or 24 months on questionnaire response rates. The trial team also employed traditional methods in an attempt to improve postal response rates including implementing a shortened reminder questionnaire, database provision to allow participants to complete questionnaires online, and administering a study newsletter one week before the 12 and 24 month PROMs were due. <h3>Results</h3> Study1 ceased in October 2014 as there appeared to be little benefit; response rates at 12 months remained lower than expected, 77% (267/347) and at 24 months, 66% (75/113). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Further data showing secondary analysis results and preliminary outcomes from our second study will be presented (strategies employed in the eTHoS trial which aimed to boost response rates will be discussed). <h3>Disclosure of interest</h3> None Declared. <h3>References</h3> Edwards PJ, <i>et al</i>.<i>Cochrane Database of Syst Rev</i>2009:MR000008 Brueton V, <i>et al</i>. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013:MR000032