Many healthcare professionals participate in various medical market research studies with topics including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and patient chart research. These studies can take the form of online surveys, telephone/video interviews, or in person interviews. In 2020 alone, Reckner Healthcare Surveys engaged with 23,500 unique respondents and paid out $8.5 million in honoraria.
So why do so many people participate? Here’s what we hear from our panelists.
#1 It’s a great way to hear about new treatments before they are brought to market. You get an insider’s view.
#2 It’s rewarding to be able to contribute knowledge and expertise to the field as a whole. You can make a profound contribution to your field.
#3 Sometimes it’s a nice break in a day. Something different to focus on for a half-hour or hour.
#4 It’s a great way to earn some extra funds for special projects or trips.
Thanks to all of you who continue to work with us. We appreciate your participation in our Healthcare Panel.
As is common with all fields, market researchers have their fair share of terms of art. We took a moment to define ones we most often use, and hope you find this glossary of market research terms useful. Email bandrachick@reckner.com if you have any suggestions of terms to add.
Dyad A study that includes two respondents and one interviewer. This can be in person, virtually, or by telephone.
Focus Group (FG) A round-table discussion with several respondents, led by a trained interviewer called a moderator.
Honoraria, Incentive, Payment There are many ways that market research companies refer to payments made in exchange for time and expert opinions. At Reckner we tend use the words Honoraria or Incentive.
One-on-One Interview/In-depth Interview (IDI) Individual in-person interviews: one respondent, one interviewer. Subject or issues are explored in great detail.
Panel A survey panel is a collection of people who have agreed to receive invitations to market research studies. Researchers rely on market research companies to maintain a cohort of qualified and available respondents for studies. Reckner has one of the most respected and esteemed Healthcare Research Panels in the field.
Patient Chart Research A health care professional reviews actual patient files, but anonymizes the data for either an online or telephone survey/interview. This methodology is useful for researchers as it is based on real-life cases, not hypothetical scenarios.
Qualitative Research Obtains data through open-ended and conversational communications, often focusing on why people think what they think.
Quantitative Research Involves the use of statistical and mathematical tools to derive results. It focuses on quantifying results of queries and seeks to understand how prevalent something is by looking for projectable results to a larger population.
Screener Generally, before being accepted into a market research study, respondents are asked some questions, via a screener, to assure that the sample group includes all of the criteria a client is looking for. Some of these factors include geographic distribution, quotas of particular specialties, specific years of experience with a particular disease, or any number of factors deemed necessary to obtain the appropriate representative spread of respondents.
Teledepth Interviews (TLD or TDI) The most common types of qualitative research. Conducted over the telephone.
Triad Three respondents and one interviewer. In person, virtually, or by telephone.
WATI A web-assisted telephone interview in which a respondent uses both a computer and telephone.
VRT A virtual round table discussion, held over the web.
In 2019 there were 18,943 of you who participated in online, telephone, or in-person studies with Reckner. Thank you for being an active member of Reckner’s esteemed Healthcare Panel.
Some of you may be thinking, “Well, I would have participated if I had received an email or call.” And we believe you!
Here are some common reasons why you may not be receiving invitations or as many as you would like, and some things you can do to increase your chances.
Whitelist: On your end, be sure you have whitelisted (safe senders list) research@reckner.com and reckner.com since that is the domain from which we send study invitations. We don’t want to end up caught in your spam filter.
Update contact information: We use email, telephone, and occasionally snail mail to recruit for studies. If you have any changes to your email, phone number, or address, please send that along to research@reckner.com.
If the telephone number you gave us is an office number, be sure those answering the phone know to pass a call from Reckner on to you. For online surveys, you will likely receive an email. For phone or in-person interviews, we will likely call you.
Some specialties are more in demand than others. Please note that if there are no surveys available for your area of specialty, you will not be contacted. Be patient and eventually, you will receive an invitation.
A small but growing portion of Reckner’s research work takes the form of in-person interviews. Generally, you would be invited to meet with a researcher at a centrally located facility and discuss a specific topic, typically for an hour.
The honoraria for in-person interviews are higher than other
types of research to compensate for the additional time it takes to travel to
and from a facility.
Our panelists who participate in these types of interviews
enjoy the personal nature of them and the fact that there’s more opportunity
for them to elaborate on a topic, sharing in detail their specific expertise.
The interviewers are well-versed on the topics and the conversations can be
quite engaging.
If you are specifically interested in signing up for
in-person interviews, please email bandrachick@reckner.com.
These types of interviews can occur anywhere, but we are
currently focusing on Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, and Atlanta.
In a recent survey, we asked members of our Healthcare
Panel about their experiences with Patient Chart Research. This methodology is
useful for researchers as it is based on real-life cases, not hypothetical
scenarios. Using anonymized data, these studies can be either online or by telephone,
with the majority being online.
One important reason Reckner’s Panelists like to do
Patient Chart Research is because they want their opinions to be counted. They
also want to contribute to innovation in their field and learn about new
treatments in the pipeline. Some say it is “fun” and others like “looking
through records,” “improving patient outcomes,” and “feeling like I can make a
difference.”
Patient Chart Research can be rewarding for those who prepare ahead and set aside uninterrupted time.
So the next time you accept a Patient Chart study,
remember these useful tips from members of Reckner’s Healthcare Panel.
It is helpful to prepare ahead of time by reviewing the questionnaire and pulling and reviewing appropriate charts before starting the survey.
Many Panelists (40%) prefer to toggle back and forth on one device; 31% prefer to use two devices like a desktop and a tablet; and 14% prefer to print out the charts.
In any case, it is critical to be able to access the charts while doing the study.
Allow enough time to do the study in one sitting; avoid interruptions.
Maintain the confidentiality of the patient and adhere to HIPAA.
Accuracy is critical. As one Panelist said, “Try your best to be accurate in the information you provide since that is very helpful in the advancement of therapy and management of our patients.” Another concurred, “Be patient, always be honest…if technology is failing you—don’t guess, just end session. The only information that can help is accurate information.”
While Patient Chart
Research can be required by a variety of fields, there is particular need in
the areas of oncology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, dermatology, and plastic
surgery.
The next time you are
invited to participate in this kind of research, give it a try and keep these
helpful tips in mind.
You’ve taken the step to register for the Healthcare Panel. Now what?
On our end, it takes us a
bit of time to verify registrations, but once that’s complete, you’ll enter the
pool for studies that are a match with your expertise and experience. We
conduct both online surveys, telephone interviews, and in-person interviews.
On your end, be sure you
have whitelisted research@reckner.com since that is the email address we use to
send study invitations. For some studies we may also call you. If you have any
changes to your email, phone number, or address, please send that along to research@reckner.com.
If you’re new to
research, another thing to note is that each study will start with a series of
questions called a screener. These vary in length, but are designed to ensure
that the study’s research objectives are met and that the participants meet the
requirements of the research. Not qualifying for any study in no way reflects
upon you or your professionalism.
If at any time you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us at research@reckner.com. We take your participation with us seriously and want to be sure we continue to treat you with the utmost respect and regard.
We’re always looking to grow our Healthcare Panel as we continue to bring on new clients and develop new business. Rest assured, there are plenty of research opportunities and adding new Panelists won’t affect your continuing to receive invitations.
Please help us spread the word to your colleagues. We need physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, office managers, and other practice administrators and the specialties listed below are among the highest in demand. Send interested healthcare professionals to our website to register today!
In our 28-year history of healthcare market research, Reckner leadership and staff members have always fostered a sense of deep respect and appreciation for members of our Healthcare Panel. We realize that time is precious and we work hard to provide a smooth and seamless experience when you choose to participate in Reckner surveys.
We often reach out to members of our panel to see how we’re doing and
what we could be doing better. This exploration has led us to our philosophy of
Respondent First™, the capstone of what we strive to achieve on a daily
basis. To our panelists: thank you for working with us and to those considering
working with us, please see what we stand for. Thank you!
In-depth telephone interviews can be conducted at your convenience at a pre-scheduled time.
Members of our Healthcare Market Research Panel participate in different types of market research including online surveys, in-depth telephone interviews, or in-person focus groups. While some Panelists favor online surveys, equally as many enjoy the in-depth and personal nature of qualitative studies, the majority of which are conducted as telephone interviews ranging from twenty minutes to an hour. In-person interviews or focus groups are not quite as common, but for those who do participate in them, they tend to deliver highly rewarding experiences because of their communal nature and the sharing of knowledge and expertise that occurs.
For those who may not be that familiar with
qualitative research, here are some of the benefits from the perspective of
healthcare professionals:
Higher payments. Pre-scheduled, in-depth telephone interviews often offer high honoraria; in some cases this can be $400, or even more, for an hour interview.
Make a significant contribution to innovation in your field. Because you’re speaking with a researcher at length, you have the opportunity to share insights and experiences that simply cannot be captured in an online survey. The interaction between you and the researcher allows for nuance and specificity that only one-on-one communication can provide.
Be the first to learn about new drugs or treatments. Oftentimes, concepts or extraordinary innovations are presented in market research studies. Our Panelists tell us they appreciate hearing about new developments before they are announced. It can help them keep on top of their field and be alerted to new drugs and treatments.
Unique, fun, and interesting opportunities. Qualitative studies can also be interesting because different methodologies are sometimes used. Lexy Frazier, Reckner’s Director of Qualitative Research, described one study in which the participating physicians were given a laptop and had their computer use observed for a few weeks. The monitoring captured URLs visited and time spent on each page (words typed, screen captures, or personal information was not monitored). “Afterwards, they got to keep the laptop,” Frazier said. “So that was certainly a nice incentive.”
One of Reckner’s Panelists, Dr. Claudio Sandoval,
shared that he prefers qualitative studies
so that others may benefit from his clinical expertise. “I have been caring for
patients with blood and cancer disorders for over 26 years and have a wealth of
information and a deep reservoir of knowledge. I enjoy talking to people and
contributing to the science and art of medicine,” he said.
Lexy Frazier, Reckner’s Director of Qualitative Research
From the perspective of the researchers, Frazier
shared that these in-depth interviews allow companies to dig more deeply into a
subject and get into the mindset of potential consumers. “Getting on the court
of the customer” is how some researchers describe it.
Qualitative research is also used to understand the language that potential consumers use to describe certain symptoms or health issues. By talking directly with potential users of a product, one can appreciate the nuances of word and phrasing choices. For example, a company might describe their product as alleviating “irritation” but upon talking with potential consumers who describe the same symptom, they might more specifically refer to it as “sensitivity” or “burning” or “pressure,” for example. Hearing the nuance of the language used by potential consumers and prescribers can help a company get the right product to the right people.
Wondering what kind of opportunities there are for telephone interviews?
At any given time, Reckner could have up to 60 qualitative studies underway. In 2018 alone, Reckner paid nearly $7,000,000 in honoraria to almost 18,000 unique participants for both qualitative and quantitative research studies.
“There’s certainly plenty of room for new Panelists to
get involved. We encourage our current Panelists to spread the word to their
networks,” Frazier said. “We are really fortunate to have such a highly
regarded and trusted Panel which has grown steadily over the past 28 years.
Because of its longstanding and consistent record of excellence, our clients
have come to rely on the Reckner Panel for their healthcare market research
needs. And, as always, we are grateful for the Panel’s commitment and
involvement,” concluded Frazier.
We
greatly appreciate referrals. Please send the name and email address or phone
number of potential Panel members to sample@reckner.com. Many thanks.
Reckner’s Healthcare Panel Members Share Enjoyment of Healthcare
Market Research
Reckner conducts market research studies for healthcare, pharmaceutical and medical device companies. In order to have respondents at the ready when our clients present us with studies, we have assembled a Panel of Healthcare Professionals. Since 1991 when the company was founded, Reckner’s Healthcare Panel has grown to become one of the most trusted and esteemed in the industry. Physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, hospital and healthcare decision-makers have all voluntarily joined Reckner’s team, and as our clients attest, comprise one of the most valuable and preferred panels in the field of healthcare market research.
Jason Gamber, VP Reckner Healthcare, leads the client service and project management teams for our Qualitative and Quantitative departments.
We recently reached out to members of our
panel with a survey of our own to find out how we were doing regarding delivery
of surveys, communication, and awarding of honoraria. What we learned was both
inspiring and humbling. Jason Gamber, our VP of Reckner Healthcare summed it
up: “We understand the value of our panel’s time and we know that the
honoraria we offer for participation are certainly important. What we were
gratified to confirm as well is the degree to which panel members find the
surveys informational and educational. A large number even called them ‘fun’.”
According to one survey respondent, a hospital
administrator, Reckner surveys are a “good way to keep up with what’s going on
in our areas of the market. You can get a great idea from a survey what
direction the rest of the country is going.” Another said they are motivated to
take surveys in order to have “input into field products and strategies for the
future. I feel like I have something to contribute. (The extra money is nice
too!)”
One emergency physician said they like to
“help direct research, hopefully share my experiences in a meaningful way,
point out what gaps there may be in education… I also found new options I
wasn’t aware of.” And an oncologist shared how taking surveys “is a positive
experience as it forces us to re-evaluate the way in which we approach
important medical issues.”
Another somewhat unexpected common response
was that the surveys are “fun”: “Fun and rewarding,” “fun and
interesting and you learn from them,” “fun and you can get your voice heard,”
and “fun and I feel good about contributing.”
Gamber concluded, “We are so appreciative of
those who continue to participate in our Healthcare Panel. We value our
partnership and want to continue to rise to the top of your inbox when survey
requests arrive there. For those of you who haven’t signed up yet to join our
Healthcare Panel, please take a moment to visit our easy online form and
join us. Come have fun with us and make a difference in your field.”
Some of you may be thinking, “Well, I would have participated if I had received an email or call.” And we believe you!
