Changing non-participation in epidemiological studies of older people: evidence from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study I and II

Gao, Lu, Green, Emma, Barnes, Linda E, Brayne, Carol, Matthews, Fiona E, Robinson, Louise and Arthur, Antony (2015) Changing non-participation in epidemiological studies of older people: evidence from the Cognitive Function and Ageing Study I and II. Age and Ageing, 44 (5). pp. 867-873. ISSN 0002-0729

Preview

PDF (ageing_afv101_full) - Published Version Download (276kB) | Preview

Abstract

Background: Non-participation in epidemiological studies threatens the generalizability of findings. Objective: To investigate the change in non-participation between the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (CFAS) I and II. Design: A comparison of two epidemiological studies of older people using identical methods. Setting: Three geographical areas of the United Kingdom. Subjects: Older people aged 65 years and over. Methods: The two studies were conducted approximately two decades apart between 1989 and 1994 (CFAS I) and between 2008 and 2011 (CFAS II). Random samples were drawn from primary care lists. We compared demographic factors associated with non-participation. Results: Non-participation in CFAS II was higher than in CFAS I (45.3% versus 18.3%). After adjustment for confounders, in both CFAS I and CFAS II women were more likely to decline to take part (CFAS I: OR 1.3 95% CI 1.2 to 1.4; CFAS II: 1.1 95% CI 1.1 to 1.2). Deprivation was associated with non-participation in both studies (highest vs lowest Townsend deprivation quintile, CFAS I: OR 1.4 95% CI 1.2 to 1.6; CFAS II: 2.0 95% CI 1.8 to 2.2). Age was not associated with non-participation in either study (CFAS I p=0.21, CFAS II p=0.47). Conclusions: Non-participation in epidemiological studies of older people has increased substantially in the past two decades and public willingness to take part in studies of this kind would appear to be declining. As communities become more diverse and older people have increasing commitments on their time, new ways to engage prospective participants are urgently needed.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health in Later Life (former - to 2017) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Dementia & Complexity in Later Life
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	24 Jul 2015 23:06
Last Modified:	21 Oct 2022 01:03
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/53815
DOI:	10.1093/ageing/afv101

Downloads

Actions (login required)

View Item