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. 2002 Mar;92(3):445-50.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.92.3.445.

Subgroups of refusers in a disability prevention trial in older adults: baseline and follow-up analysis

Christoph E Minder  1 , Tobias Müller, Gerhard Gillmann, John C Beck, Andreas E Stuck
Affiliations

Subgroups of refusers in a disability prevention trial in older adults: baseline and follow-up analysis

Christoph E Minder et al. Am J Public Health. 2002 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: This study explored differences between refusers and participants in a longitudinal study with extensive baseline and follow-up information.

Methods: Results of a trial comparing 791 participants and 401 community-residing older adults who refused to participate in a study concerning preventive home visits were examined. Information was collected from interviews, insurance records, and government files.

Results: Despite similarities in terms of age, sex, and self-perceived health at baseline, 3-year follow-up data indicated that refusers had a 1.58-fold higher risk of entering a nursing home than participants. There were additional differences between refusers and participants when refusers were categorized in 4 subgroups based on self-reported reason for refusal (too ill, too healthy, no interest, and other reasons).

Conclusions: Future studies should include follow-up data to allow comparisons between refusers and participants and should address the presence of multiple subgroups of refusers.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Survival probabilities for refusers (n = 401) and participating control subjects (n = 527) (a) and probabilities of nursing home admission for refusers (n = 401) and participating control subjects (n = 527) (b): Bern, Switzerland, 1993–1997.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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