Non-response in a cross-sectional study of respiratory health in Norway

Abrahamsen, Regine; Svendsen, Martin Veel; Henneberger, Paul K.; Gundersen, Gølin Finckenhagen; Torén, Kjell; Kongerud, Johny; Fell, Anne Kristin Møller

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009912

Cited by 59 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Secondly, the reference values from 2015 can be assumed to describe the HRQoL in older people better than the 1996 sample since that study had a relatively low response rate for the older parts of the population [14]. The decline in response rate from 67% in 1996 to 36% in 2015 is in accordance with both national [32] and international [33–35] findings regarding response rates to postal surveys in the past 15 years. Multiple factors may affect response rates such as the length of the survey, use of pre-notifications, follow-up contact, and survey mode [36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Norwegian reference values for the Short-Form Health Survey 36: development over time

et al. 2017

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PurposeReference values for patient-reported outcome measures are useful for interpretation of results from clinical trials. The study aims were to collect Norwegian SF-36 reference values and compare with data from 1996 to 2002.MethodsIn 2015, SF-36 was sent by mail to a representative sample of the population (N = 6165). Time trends and associations between background variables and SF-36 scale scores were compared by linear regression models.ResultsThe 2015 response rate was 36% (N = 2118) versus 67% (N = 2323) in 1996 and 56% (N = 5241) in 2002. Only 5% of the youngest (18–29 years) and 27% of the oldest (>70 years) responded in 2015. Age and educational level were significantly higher in 2015 relative to 1996/2002 (p < .001). The oldest age group in 2015 reported better scores on five of eight scales (p < 0.01), the exceptions being bodily pain, vitality, and mental health compared to 1996/2002 (NS). Overall, the SF-36 scores were relatively stable across surveys, controlled for background variables. In general, the most pronounced changes in 2015 were better scores on the role limitations emotional scale (7.4 points, p < .001) and lower scores on the bodily pain scale (4.6 points, p < .001) than in the 1996/2002 survey.ConclusionsThe low response rate in 2015 suggests that the results, especially among the youngest, should be interpreted with caution. The high response rate among the oldest indicates good representativity for those >70 years. Despite societal changes in Norway the past two decades, HRQoL has remained relatively stable.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Norwegian reference values for the Short-Form Health Survey 36: development over time

et al. 2017

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“…The weighting was based on inverse probability of participation among all 50 000 invited and calculated for each combination of gender, 5-year age intervals and area of residence by grouping of postal codes. 19 Each combination of these background variables had at least 19 responders when calculating weights. Additionally, weights based on inverse probability of participation by use of asthma medication and chronic cough derived from 260 participants in the nonresponder study were performed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As part of the sensitivity analysis, the statistical analyses were performed with and without these weights to evaluate how adjusting for non-response affected the study results. 19 PAR was calculated for some exposure and symptoms. The statistical significance level was set at p<0.05 and results reaching significance are marked in bold in the tables.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To address nonparticipation, adjustments by inverse probability weighting were made to account for non-response bias. In a separate study in 2016, 19 we reported demographics characteristics, respiratory symptoms and use of asthma medication for the non-responders and identified possible selection bias. A total of 260 out of 700 randomly selected nonresponders (37%) participated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association of respiratory symptoms and asthma with occupational exposures: findings from a population-based cross-sectional survey in Telemark, Norway

et al. 2017

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ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and physician-diagnosed asthma and assess the impact of current occupational exposure.DesignCross-sectional analyses of the prevalence of self-reported respiratory health and association with current occupational exposure in a random sample of the general population in Telemark County, Norway.SettingsIn 2013, a self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of the general population, aged 16–50, in Telemark, Norway. The overall response rate was 33%, comprising 16 099 responders.Outcome measuresThe prevalence for respiratory symptoms and asthma, and OR of respiratory symptoms and asthma for occupational groups and exposures were calculated. Occupational exposures were assessed using self-reported exposure and an asthma-specific job-exposure matrix (JEM).ResultsThe prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 11.5%. For the occupational groups, the category with agriculture/fishery workers and craft/related trade workers was associated with wheezing and asthma attack in the past 12 months, showing OR 1.3 (1.1 to 1.6) and 1.9 (1.2 to 2.8), respectively. The group including technicians and associated professionals was also associated with wheezing OR 1.2 (1.0 to 1.3) and asthma attack OR 1.4 (1.1 to 1.9). The JEM data show that exposure to flour was associated with wheezing OR 3.2 (1.4 to 7.3) and woken with dyspnoea OR 3.5 (1.3 to 9.5), whereas exposures to diisocyanates, welding/soldering fumes and exposure to vehicle/motor exhaust were associated with dyspnoea OR 2.9 (1.5 to 5.7), 3.2 (1.6 to 6.4) and 1.4 (1.0 to 1.8), respectively.ConclusionsThe observed prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 11.5%. The ‘manual’ occupations were associated with respiratory symptoms. Occupational exposure to flour, diisocyanates, welding/soldering fumes and vehicle/motor exhaust was associated with respiratory symptoms in the past 12 months and use of asthma medication. However, prospective data are needed to confirm the observed associations.

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“…A subset of non-responders was asked to answer a limited number of questions with the same wording as in the original questionnaire. 12 Non-response was associated with younger age (nonresponders were 2.4 years younger) and being male (71% of the eligible men and 62% of the eligible women were nonresponders). Past smoking was significantly less common among responders (20.9%) than non-responders (29.6%), but current smoking levels were similar: 24.0% versus 23.7%.…”

Section: Study Design Questionnairementioning

confidence: 99%

Breath-taking jobs: a case–control study of respiratory work disability by occupation in Norway

et al. 2016

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BackgroundThe current knowledge on respiratory work disability is based on studies that used crude categories of exposure. This may lead to a loss of power, and does not provide sufficient information to allow targeted workplace interventions and follow-up of patients with respiratory symptoms.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to identify occupations and specific exposures associated with respiratory work disability.MethodsIn 2013, a self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of the general population, aged 16–50, in Telemark County, Norway. We defined respiratory work disability as a positive response to the survey question: ‘Have you ever had to change or leave your job because it affected your breathing?’ Occupational exposures were assessed using an asthma-specific job-exposure matrix, and comparison of risks was made for cases and a median of 50 controls per case.Results247 workers had changed their work because of respiratory symptoms, accounting for 1.7% of the respondents ever employed. The ‘breath-taking jobs’ were cooks/chefs: adjusted OR 3.6 (95% CI 1.6 to 8.0); welders: 5.2 (2.0 to 14); gardeners: 4.5 (1.3 to 15); sheet metal workers: 5.4 (2.0 to 14); cleaners: 5.0 (2.2 to 11); hairdressers: 6.4 (2.5 to 17); and agricultural labourers: 7.4 (2.5 to 22). Job changes were also associated with a variety of occupational exposures, with some differences between men and women.ConclusionsSelf-report and job-exposure matrix data showed similar findings. For the occupations and exposures associated with job change, preventive measures should be implemented.

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Non-response in a cross-sectional study of respiratory health in Norway

Cited by 59 publications

References 27 publications

Norwegian reference values for the Short-Form Health Survey 36: development over time

Norwegian reference values for the Short-Form Health Survey 36: development over time

Association of respiratory symptoms and asthma with occupational exposures: findings from a population-based cross-sectional survey in Telemark, Norway

Breath-taking jobs: a case–control study of respiratory work disability by occupation in Norway

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