TY - JOUR
T1 - A follow-up comparison of study participants and refusers within a rural elderly population
AU - Ganguli, Mary
AU - Mendelsohn, Aaron
AU - Lytle, Mary
AU - Dodge, Hiroko
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - Background. Survey rates are known to decline with age. Survey results can be affected by response bias if nonresponders are more, or less, likely than participants to suffer from the condition being studied. For instance, it is possible that older adults with dementia would be less likely to participate in a study of dementing disorders. Methods. A random sample of a rural U.S. population aged 65+ years yielded 1,422 participants and 912 refusers in addition to others who were ineligible, inaccessible, or untestable. Participants and refusers were compared on age, sex, 5-year mortality, and causes of death suggestive of dementia as listed on death certificates. Results. Compared to participants, refusers were significantly older and more likely to be women, with mortality similar to that of participants at approximately 5-year follow-up. Death certificate data revealed no significant differences in reported causes of death indicating or suggesting dementia. Conclusions. In this population, those who refused to participate in a dementia survey were not more likely to be ill or demented than those who did participate.
AB - Background. Survey rates are known to decline with age. Survey results can be affected by response bias if nonresponders are more, or less, likely than participants to suffer from the condition being studied. For instance, it is possible that older adults with dementia would be less likely to participate in a study of dementing disorders. Methods. A random sample of a rural U.S. population aged 65+ years yielded 1,422 participants and 912 refusers in addition to others who were ineligible, inaccessible, or untestable. Participants and refusers were compared on age, sex, 5-year mortality, and causes of death suggestive of dementia as listed on death certificates. Results. Compared to participants, refusers were significantly older and more likely to be women, with mortality similar to that of participants at approximately 5-year follow-up. Death certificate data revealed no significant differences in reported causes of death indicating or suggesting dementia. Conclusions. In this population, those who refused to participate in a dementia survey were not more likely to be ill or demented than those who did participate.
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U2 - 10.1093/gerona/53A.6.M465
DO - 10.1093/gerona/53A.6.M465
M3 - Article
C2 - 9823751
AN - SCOPUS:0031726728
SN - 1079-5006
VL - 53
SP - M465-M470
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
IS - 6
ER -