Effects of Free Food on Attendance at Medical Grand Rounds
Author Information
Author(s): Colin M Segovis, Paul S Mueller, Melissa L Rethlefsen, Nick F LaRusso, Scott C Litin, Ayalew Tefferi, Thomas M Habermann
Primary Institution: Mayo Clinic
Hypothesis
Does providing complimentary food increase attendance at medical grand rounds?
Conclusion
Providing free food may be an effective strategy for increasing attendance at medical grand rounds.
Supporting Evidence
- Attendance increased by 38.4% after complimentary food was provided.
- 70.1% of respondents were more likely to attend due to free food.
- 53.6% reported increased attendance because of complimentary food.
- 80.3% indicated that food was not a distraction during the meetings.
- 81.7% disagreed that industry support influenced the content of the grand rounds.
Takeaway
If you give people free food, they are more likely to come to meetings.
Methodology
Attendance was monitored from September 25, 2002, to June 2, 2004, and compared before and after complimentary food was provided.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may be biased regarding industry influence.
Limitations
The study was not randomized or blinded, and the quality of presentations was not controlled.
Participant Demographics
Participants included faculty, fellows, and residents from the Department of Medicine.
Statistical Information
P-Value
< .001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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