Survey method |
Location | Nationwide | Wisconsin | |
Physicians eligible, No. | 33,365 | 60 | |
Physicians sent survey instruments, No. | 662 | 55 | |
Method of survey distribution | Sent by conventional mail with self- addressed, stamped response postcard | Sent by e-mail with instructions to reply by e-mail | |
Distributions, No. | 3 | 2 | |
Time between distributions, days | 21 | 7 | |
Direct cost per response, $* | 5.59 | Nominal | |
Response rate and time |
Physicians responding, No. (%) | 245 (37.0) | 26 (47.3) | NS |
Range of response times, days | 7–172 | 1–21 | |
Median response time, days | 28 | 2 | <.0001 |
Case management† |
Hospitalize the patient, % | 62.9 | 62.7 | NS |
Obtain a chest radiograph, % | 84.2 | 86.7 | NS |
Obtain a specimen for blood culture, % | 55.2 | 45.9 | NS |
Initiate empiric antibiotic therapy, % | 58.8 | 45.9 | NS |