Sample selection and reasons for non-participation in the PRedictors and Outcomes of incident FRACtures (PROFRAC) study

Amanda L Stuart; Julie A Pasco; Sharon L Brennan-Olsen; Michael Berk; Amelia G Betson; Katherine E Bennett; Elizabeth N Timney; Lana J Williams

doi:10.4081/jphr.2019.1475

Sample selection and reasons for non-participation in the PRedictors and Outcomes of incident FRACtures (PROFRAC) study

J Public Health Res. 2019 May 3;8(1):1475. doi: 10.4081/jphr.2019.1475. eCollection 2019 Mar 11.

Authors

Amanda L Stuart¹, Julie A Pasco^{1

2

3}, Sharon L Brennan-Olsen^{2

4}, Michael Berk^{1

5

6}, Amelia G Betson¹, Katherine E Bennett¹, Elizabeth N Timney¹, Lana J Williams¹

Affiliations

¹ IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Deakin University.
² Department of Medicine - Western Health, University of Melbourne.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University.
⁴ Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), Melbourne.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne.
⁶ Orygen the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia.

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 1^st 2012 and May 31^st 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, 1.31-3.32, 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.

Keywords: fracture; non-participation; participation rate; recruitment; sample selection.

Grants and funding

Funding: This work was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), of Australia (1009367, 1162867). LJW and SLB-O were supported by NHMRC Career Development Fellowships (1064272, and 1107510, respectively). MB is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Senior Principal Research Fellowship (1059660 and 1156072). The funding providers played no role in the design or conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; or in preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.