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

ABSTRACT:

Background

non-participation in epidemiological studies threatens the generalisability 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

SUBMITTER: Gao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4547929 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature