J T Pacala1, J O Judge, C Boult. 1. Program in Geriatrics, Department of Family Practice and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine demographic, functional, and health-related factors that may have influenced the selection of older adults for a randomized trial of balance enhancement. DESIGN: Comparison of participants with nonparticipants at various stages of the recruiting process. SETTING:Northeastern suburban community. PARTICIPANTS: Registered voters aged 75 and older (n = 7191). MEASUREMENTS: Demographic, health-related, functional, balance, gait, and falling characteristics. RESULTS: The overall participation rate in the randomized trial was 1.5%. Compared with nonparticipants, participants were significantly more likely to be male, married, living with others, living in a house, highly educated, healthy, and physically active. CONCLUSION: Recruiting older subjects by mail to studies of rigorous interventions can produce significant selection biases that may limit the population to which results can be generalized.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine demographic, functional, and health-related factors that may have influenced the selection of older adults for a randomized trial of balance enhancement. DESIGN: Comparison of participants with nonparticipants at various stages of the recruiting process. SETTING: Northeastern suburban community. PARTICIPANTS: Registered voters aged 75 and older (n = 7191). MEASUREMENTS: Demographic, health-related, functional, balance, gait, and falling characteristics. RESULTS: The overall participation rate in the randomized trial was 1.5%. Compared with nonparticipants, participants were significantly more likely to be male, married, living with others, living in a house, highly educated, healthy, and physically active. CONCLUSION: Recruiting older subjects by mail to studies of rigorous interventions can produce significant selection biases that may limit the population to which results can be generalized.
Authors: Nick D Carter; Karim M Khan; Heather A McKay; Moira A Petit; Constance Waterman; Ari Heinonen; Patti A Janssen; Meghan G Donaldson; Arthur Mallinson; Lenore Riddell; Karen Kruse; Jerilynn C Prior; Leon Flicker Journal: CMAJ Date: 2002-10-29 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Lesley D Gillespie; M Clare Robertson; William J Gillespie; Catherine Sherrington; Simon Gates; Lindy M Clemson; Sarah E Lamb Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2012-09-12