Predictors of refusal to participate: A longitudinal health survey of the elderly in Australia

Patricia A. Jacomb*, Anthony F. Jorm, Ailsa E. Korten, Helen Christensen, A. Scott Henderson

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    66 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: The loss of participants in longitudinal studies due to non-contact, refusal or death can introduce bias into the results of such studies. The study described here examines reasons for refusal over three waves of a survey of persons ≥ 70 years. Methods: In a longitudinal study involving three waves, participants were compared to those who refused to participate but allowed an informant to be interviewed and to those who refused any participation. Results: At Wave 1 both groups of Wave 2 non-participants had reported lower occupational status and fewer years of education, had achieved lower verbal IQ scores and cognitive performance scores and experienced some distress from the interview. Those with an informant interview only were in poorer physical health than those who participated and those who refused. Depression and anxiety symptoms were not associated with non-participation. Multivariate analyses found that verbal IQ and cognitive impairment predicted refusal. Results were very similar for refusers at both Waves 2 and 3. Conclusions: Longitudinal studies of the elderly may over estimate cognitive performance because of the greater refusal rate of those with poorer performance. However, there is no evidence of bias with respect to anxiety or depression.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number4
    Pages (from-to)1-6
    Number of pages6
    JournalBMC Public Health
    Volume2
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2002

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