Sample Selection and Reasons for Non-Participation in the Predictors and Outcomes of Incident Fractures (Profrac) Study

Abstract

Background. Fragility fractures, associated with osteoporosis, are an escalating public health problem. We aim to describe sample selection, recruitment methods and reasons for non-participation in The PRedictors and Outcomes of incident FRACtures (PROFRAC) study. Design and Methods. Barwon Statistical Division residents aged 20+ years, with a radiologically-confirmed fracture between June 1st 2012 and May 31st 2013, were eligible. Individuals identified as fracture cases were invited by mail to complete a questionnaire. Reasons for non-participation were documented. Logistic regression techniques were used to determine odds ratios for participation and non-participation reasons. Results. A total of 1,458 of 2,155 (67.7%) adults with fracture (48.7% men) participated. Individuals were excluded due to inability to give informed consent, death, no knowledge of fracture, or inability to be contacted. The odds of participation decreased with age (OR 0.99, 95%CI 0.99-0.99, P=0.011) and increased among specific fracture groups [clavicle/scapula (OR 2.50, 1.30-4.68, P=0.006), forearm/humerus (OR 2.00, 1.22-3.27, P=0.006), wrist (OR 2.08, 1.31-0.32, P=0.002), hip (OR 2.12, 1.20-3.75, P=0.009), ankle (OR 1.85, 1.20-2.87, P=0.001), compared to face/skull fractures]. The odds of reporting disinterest, time constraints or personal reasons as the reason for non-participation decreased with age, whereas the odds of reporting frailty, language-related issues or illness as the reason for non-participation increased with of age [disinterest (OR 0.98, 0.97-0.98, P<0.001), time constraints (OR 0.97, 0.96-0.98, P<0.001), personal reasons (OR 0.98, 0.97-0.99, P=0.007), frailty (OR 1.12, 1.09- 1.15, P<0.001), language-related issues (OR 1.02, 1.01-1.04, P<0.001), illness (OR 1.03, 1.02-1.05, P<0.001)]. Conclusions. Understanding drivers of research participation can inform study design to achieve optimal participation in health research.

Volunteer Bias and Female Participation in Exercise and Sports Science Research

“…Finally, factors such as age (Sheikh & Mattingly, 1981;Teschke et al, 2010;Van Wieren-de Wijer et al, 2009), race/ethnicity (Braunstein et al, 2008;Liu et al, 2019;Milani et al, 2020;Shavers et al, 2002;Webb et al, 2019;Wendler et al, 2006), time constraints (Markanday et al, 2013;Stuart et al, 2019), and financial compensation (Bentley & Thacker, 2004;Ding et al, 2007;Grady, 2005;Ranjan et al, 2019) sometimes correlate with or impact willingness to participate in research. Future research can examine if these factors also influence participation in specific ESS procedures and if they interact with sex to impact participation.…”

Antipsychotic medication use and fracture: a case–control study

“…In total, 1458 participants (51.8% women) with a radiologically confirmed fracture agreed to participate, with 67.7% response. Further details of sample selection, recruitment, methodology and inclusion/ exclusion criteria have been published elsewhere 30 .…”