Participation Rates in Epidemiologic Studies

Participation Rates in Epidemiologic Studies Pages 643-653 Sandro Galea, Melissa Tracy Close Preview Purchase PDF (159 K) | Related Articles AbstractAbstract | ReferencesReferences Participation rates for epidemiologic studies have been declining during the past 30 years with even steeper declines in recent years. This wholesale decrease in participation rate, or at the very least the increase in refusal, has, quite understandably, occasioned some concern among epidemiologists who have long considered a high study participation rate as one of the hallmarks of a “good” epidemiologic study. In this review we synthesize the issues that are central to epidemiologic thinking around declining study participation rates. We consider the reasons why study participation has been declining, summarize what we know about who does participate in epidemiologic studies, and discuss the implications of declining participation rates. We conclude with a discussion of methods that may help improve study participation rates. Article Outline Introduction What is a Participation Rate? Why has Nonparticipation been Increasing? Refusing Participation Difficulties Finding Potential Participants Who Participates in Epidemiologic Studies Today? Implications of Study Nonparticipation Improving Participation Rates in Epidemiologic Studies Conclusion References