Response of general practitioners to a national dental office evaluation program. Office of Quality Assurance

The methods used and the results achieved in an effort to solicit 300 volunteers to test the feasibility of a dental office assessment instrument have been described. In response to personal letters to general practitioners in 14 states, 13.9% returned a card indicating a willingness to consider participation. The response rate from different states ranged from 8% to 21.7% with the response being more favorable from states with fewer dentists. Year of graduation from dental school had little effect on the rate of response. Rural dentists responded at a slightly more favorable rate. Of dentists responding, 71% did so within 2 weeks and 90% within the first month after receiving the solicitation. Mail solicitation can be used successfully in recruiting private practitioners for participation in an in-office practice assessment program.