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Cathy Schoen, Robin Osborn, Michelle M. Doty, David Squires, Jordon Peugh, and Sandra Applebaum
A Survey Of Primary Care Physicians In Eleven Countries, 2009: Perspectives On Care, Costs, And Experiences
Health Affairs, November/December 2009; 28(6): w1171-w1183. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] [Technical Appendix] [Reprints & Permissions]
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[Read Comment] Sample-Size Representativeness
R Jako   ( 8 December 2009 )

Sample-Size Representativeness 8 December 2009
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R Jako,
Independent consultant
Bay Area, CA

Send comment to journal:
Re: Sample-Size Representativeness

yawkor{at}gmail.com R Jako

I greatly enjoyed reading this summary of the survey -- generally very well presented and I appreciate the data that Cathy Schoen and her colleagues bring to some international comparisons that have been debated for for too long. I take statistical exception to what was written in the conclusion regarding U.K primary care practices. The article states that a 20% response rate is a barrier to generalizing from the data. This is incorrect. Their sample size is well spread across different practice types, and sampling theory and evidence show that once a sample is larger than 30, it is highly probable that it is an excellent representation of the population. The point being made regarding the U.K. physicians' outcomes could have been safely made more strongly.