Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Design, methodological issues and participation in a multiple sclerosis case-control study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Williamson, DM; Marrie, RA; Ashley-Koch, A; Schiffer, R; Trottier, J; Wagner, L
Published in: Acta Neurol Scand
September 2012

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to determine whether the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) was associated with certain environmental exposures or genetic factors previously reported to influence MS risk. This paper describes the methodological issues, study design and characteristics of the study population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Individuals with definite MS were identified from a prevalence study conducted in three geographic areas. The target number of cases was not reached, so an additional study area was added. Identifying clinic controls was inefficient, so controls were recruited using random digit dialing. All study participants completed a detailed questionnaire regarding environmental exposures using computer-assisted telephone interviewing, and blood was collected for genetic analysis. RESULTS: In total, 276 cases and 590 controls participated, but participation rates were low, ranging from 28.4% to 38.9%. Only one-third (33.6%) of individuals identified in the prevalence study agreed to participate in the case-control study. Cases were more likely to be non-Hispanic white and older than their source populations as identified in the preceding prevalence study (P < 0.05). Most participants provided a blood sample for genotyping (91%; n = 789). CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological studies play a key role in identifying genetic and environmental factors that are associated with complex diseases like MS. Methodological issues arise in every study, and investigators need to be able to detect, respond to and correct problems in a timely and scientifically valid manner.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Acta Neurol Scand

DOI

EISSN

1600-0404

Publication Date

September 2012

Volume

126

Issue

3

Start / End Page

197 / 204

Location

Denmark

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Report
  • Sample Size
  • Research Design
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Williamson, D. M., Marrie, R. A., Ashley-Koch, A., Schiffer, R., Trottier, J., & Wagner, L. (2012). Design, methodological issues and participation in a multiple sclerosis case-control study. Acta Neurol Scand, 126(3), 197–204. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0404.2011.01629.x
Williamson, D. M., R. A. Marrie, A. Ashley-Koch, R. Schiffer, J. Trottier, and L. Wagner. “Design, methodological issues and participation in a multiple sclerosis case-control study.Acta Neurol Scand 126, no. 3 (September 2012): 197–204. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0404.2011.01629.x.
Williamson DM, Marrie RA, Ashley-Koch A, Schiffer R, Trottier J, Wagner L. Design, methodological issues and participation in a multiple sclerosis case-control study. Acta Neurol Scand. 2012 Sep;126(3):197–204.
Williamson, D. M., et al. “Design, methodological issues and participation in a multiple sclerosis case-control study.Acta Neurol Scand, vol. 126, no. 3, Sept. 2012, pp. 197–204. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/j.1600-0404.2011.01629.x.
Williamson DM, Marrie RA, Ashley-Koch A, Schiffer R, Trottier J, Wagner L. Design, methodological issues and participation in a multiple sclerosis case-control study. Acta Neurol Scand. 2012 Sep;126(3):197–204.
Journal cover image

Published In

Acta Neurol Scand

DOI

EISSN

1600-0404

Publication Date

September 2012

Volume

126

Issue

3

Start / End Page

197 / 204

Location

Denmark

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Report
  • Sample Size
  • Research Design
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Middle Aged
  • Male