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Participation rates in the selection of population controls in a case-control study of colorectal cancer using two recruitment methods
Castaño-Vinyals, Gemma Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J. Moreno, Víctor Carrasco, Estela Guinó, Elisabet Kogevinas, Manolis Villanueva, Cristina M.
Castaño-Vinyals, Gemma
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J.
Moreno, Víctor
Carrasco, Estela
Guinó, Elisabet
Kogevinas, Manolis
Villanueva, Cristina M.
Abstract
Objectives
Low participation rates in the selection of population controls are an increasing concern for the validity of case-control studies worldwide.
Methods
We conducted a pilot study to assess two approaches to recruiting population controls in a study of colorectal cancer, including a face-to-face interview and blood sample collection. In the first approach, persons identified through a population roster were invited to participate through a telephone call by an interviewer telephoning on behalf of our research center. In the second approach, individuals were identified from the lists of selected family practitioners and were telephoned on behalf of the family practitioner.
Results
When the second method was used, participation rates increased from 42% to 57% and the percentage of refusals decreased from 47% to 13%. The reasons for refusing to participate did not differ significantly between the two methods.
Conclusions
Contact through the family practitioner yielded higher response rates in population controls in the study area.
Resumen
Objetivos
Las bajas tasas de participación de controles poblacionales son una preocupación para la validez de los estudios de casos y controles.
Métodos
Realizamos un estudio piloto utilizando dos estrategias de reclutamiento de controles poblacionales en un estudio de cáncer colorrectal, incluyendo una entrevista personal y una extracción de sangre. Con la primera estrategia, una entrevistadora llamaba en nombre del centro de investigación a los sujetos de un censo. Con la segunda estrategia, los sujetos fueron seleccionados a partir de los listados de población asignada a los médicos de familia y la llamada se hacía en nombre del médico.
Resultados
Las tasas de participación aumentaron del 42% al 57% usando el segundo método; el porcentaje de rechazos disminuyó del 47% al 13%. Las razones de rechazo no diferían según la estrategia.
Conclusiones
El contacto a través del médico de familia reportó mayores tasas de respuesta para los controles poblacionales del área de estudio.
Keywords
patient participation rates, population controls, case-control study
Date
2011
Type
Journal article
Journal
Gaceta Sanitaria
Book
Volume
25
Issue
5
Page Range
353-356
Article Number
ACU Department
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File Access
Open