Survey response rates for the WVSOM graduating classes were as follows: 1995, 29.5%; 1996, 55.6%; 1997, 42.2%; 1998, 34.5%; 1999, 65.6%; 2000, 41.3%; 2001, 37.3%; 2002, 49.2%. A total of 53 of 124 alumni from the preintervention classes (1995, 1996) responded, for a return rate of 42.7%. A total of 171 of 379 alumni from the postintervention classes (1997-2002) responded, for a return rate 45.1%. Surveys of one preintervention graduate and 16 postintervention graduates were excluded from subsequent analysis because these alumni were still in residency or fellowship training.
The complete sample size of the preintervention group was 52 (representing 41.9% of surveyed individuals in this group) and that of the postintervention group was 155 (representing 40.9% of surveyed individuals in this group)—for a total combined-group sample size of 207. However, some respondents did not answer all items, so response rates on certain individual items were somewhat lower.