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Characteristics of nonresponders in a community survey of the elderly.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Norton, MC; Breitner, JC; Welsh, KA; Wyse, BW
Published in: J Am Geriatr Soc
December 1994

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of nonresponse in a community survey of cognitive status in the elderly. DESIGN: Cross-sectional community survey with two stages of recruitment: an initial, less-intensive method, followed by a more aggressive approach that included face-to-face contact. Characteristics of initial nonresponders and responders were compared. SETTING: A close-knit rural community with higher than usual proportions of elderly, especially the very old. Subjects were interviewed in their homes. Collateral informants were subsequently interviewed by telephone. PARTICIPANTS: Utah heads of household aged 75 and older who resided in a noninstitutionalized setting. MEASUREMENTS: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Dementia Questionnaire, and an autobiographical risk factor and family history questionnaire provided measures for all independent variables. The dependent variable was status as initial responders or initial nonresponders. RESULTS: An initial participation rate of 63% was achieved, but a final rate of 93% was achieved when initial nonresponders were contacted later face-to-face. MMSE score was significantly related to responder status when analyzed alone (beta = -.19, P = 0.02) and remained a significant predictor after adjusting for education and whether born in Cache County (beta = -.16, P = 0.041) or current drinking, diabetes, or "other" health problems (beta = -.18, P = 0.028). After controlling for the informant report of subject's problems with activities of daily living, MMSE score fell just below statistical significance (beta = -.16, P = 0.079). CONCLUSIONS: Nonresponders in community surveys of the elderly appear to be disproportionately cognitively impaired. The increase in participation rates achieved after more persistent recruitment suggests that many initial nonresponders can still be recruited if intensive methods are used.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Am Geriatr Soc

DOI

ISSN

0002-8614

Publication Date

December 1994

Volume

42

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1252 / 1256

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rural Population
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pilot Projects
  • Patient Participation
  • Mental Status Schedule
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Geriatrics
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Norton, M. C., Breitner, J. C., Welsh, K. A., & Wyse, B. W. (1994). Characteristics of nonresponders in a community survey of the elderly. J Am Geriatr Soc, 42(12), 1252–1256. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb06506.x
Norton, M. C., J. C. Breitner, K. A. Welsh, and B. W. Wyse. “Characteristics of nonresponders in a community survey of the elderly.J Am Geriatr Soc 42, no. 12 (December 1994): 1252–56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb06506.x.
Norton MC, Breitner JC, Welsh KA, Wyse BW. Characteristics of nonresponders in a community survey of the elderly. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1994 Dec;42(12):1252–6.
Norton, M. C., et al. “Characteristics of nonresponders in a community survey of the elderly.J Am Geriatr Soc, vol. 42, no. 12, Dec. 1994, pp. 1252–56. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb06506.x.
Norton MC, Breitner JC, Welsh KA, Wyse BW. Characteristics of nonresponders in a community survey of the elderly. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1994 Dec;42(12):1252–1256.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Geriatr Soc

DOI

ISSN

0002-8614

Publication Date

December 1994

Volume

42

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1252 / 1256

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rural Population
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pilot Projects
  • Patient Participation
  • Mental Status Schedule
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Geriatrics