Abstract
Background
Individuals who do and do not participate in studies often have different characteristics.
The profile of nonparticipants may vary by type of nonparticipation. Few cross-sectional
or longitudinal studies of chronically ill individuals identify these differences
at baseline and of those that do; many do not have information on type of nonparticipation.
We compared characteristics of chronically ill individuals to determine if they differ
by type of nonparticipation.
Methods
Data are from an evaluation of a chronic disease management program conducted in New
South Wales, Australia during 2001 and 2002. Characteristics were compared using routinely
collected hospital data. Reasons for nonparticipation were categorized as refusal,
death, or untraceable.
Results
Individuals who refused to participate were older, female, discharged at risk, and
have heart failure. Those untraceable were younger, not married, Indigenous, and receiving
care during the intervention phase but not recruited. Individuals not participating
due to death were older, male, not cohabiting, discharged at risk, and have a diagnosis
of cancer or heart failure.
Conclusion
The significant differences between untraceable, refused, and deceased individuals
should be considered when designing studies and when adjusting for nonparticipation
bias.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 13, 2008
Accepted:
November 2,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
