Sampling issues in a regional pediatric practice-based network.

This paper explores various approaches to achieving representative and generalizable practice-based data. The data used were derived from original research conducted by the Pediatric Practice Research Group (PPRG), a research consortium including full-time staff at Children's Memorial Hospital and 132 practitioners in 35 Chicago-area practices in a variety of settings ranging from Chicago's inner city to rural northwest Indiana. Sampling issues addressed include sampling frame, source (population or practice), geographical representation, seasonal representation, survey instrument design, socioeconomic diversity, and contact and response rates.