Predicting complete loss to follow-up after a health-education program: number of absences and face-to-face contact with a researcher.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Research on health-education programs requires longitudinal data. Loss to follow-up can lead to imprecision and bias, and complete loss to follow-up is particularly damaging. If that loss is predictable, then efforts to prevent it can be focused on those program participants who are at the highest risk. We identified predictors of complete loss to follow-up in a longitudinal cohort study.

Methods

Data were collected over 1 year in a study of adults with chronic illnesses who were in a program to learn self-management skills. Following baseline measurements, the program had one group-discussion session each week for six weeks. Follow-up questionnaires were sent 3, 6, and 12 months after the baseline measurement. A person was classified as completely lost to follow-

SUBMITTER: Park MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3215183 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature