Characteristics of respondents in each country
| Country | Australia | Belgium | The Netherlands | UK | USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of respondents | 298 | 319 | 639 | 1109 | 405 |
| Response rate | 10% | NA | 30% | 68% | NA |
| Dates of data collection | Sent out May 2013, one reminder, closed in October 2013 | Sent out February 2013, no reminder, closed March 2013 | Sent out February 2013, one reminder, closed March 2013 | Sent out September 2012, three reminders closed October 2012 | December 2013 through February, 2014 |
| Female (%) | NA | 131 (40) | 239 (37) | 475 (43) | 119 (29) |
| Kilometres to nearest hospital (average) | NA | 7.1 | 8.6 | 11.2 | 7.9 |
| Location of practice | |||||
| Rural or semirural | 280 (44%) | 176 (55%) | 280 (44%) | 377 (34%) | 102 (25%) |
| Urban or suburban | 359 (56%) | 143 (45%) | 359 (56%) | 732 (66%) | 303 (75%) |
| Number of patients registered at practice (average) | NA | 2800 | 4110 | 8275 | NA |
| Sampling method | 2933 GPs Australian Medical Association membership list with addition of data from other sources (approximately 80% GPs covered) | Existing mailing list of GPs and GP groups in the region were contacted. The survey was only sent to GPs in Flanders (the Flemish speaking part of Belgium) | All GPs in three regionally distributed GP networks approached | Randomly sampled, stratified according to age, length of time in practice, specialty and location | AAFP National Research network and a randomly sampled group of practitioners, stratified according to age, length of time in practice, specialty and location |
| Source | Australasian Medical Publishing Company Data Direct | Academic networks and GP groups of the region collectively contacted | GPs in three regions of departments of general practice | Doctors.net | Practice Based Research Network and commercial polling agency |
| Type of survey | Electronic and paper | Electronic | Electronic | Electronic | Electronic |
| Year qualified as a doctor: average | 1988 | 1990 | 1991 | 1993 | 1990 |
AAFP, American Academy of Family Practitioners; GP, general practitioner; NA, not available.