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. 2023 Jul:123:110003.
doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110003. Epub 2023 Mar 12.

How did regional lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic affect recruitment into a large multinational cohort study of intrauterine device users?

Tanja Boehnke  1 , Lisa Eggebrecht  2 , Mareike Viet  2 , Klaas Heinemann  2 , Anja Bauerfeind  2
Affiliations

How did regional lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic affect recruitment into a large multinational cohort study of intrauterine device users?

Tanja Boehnke et al. Contraception. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the impact of lockdown policies on the recruitment of an ongoing cohort study.

Study design: We performed descriptive analyses of recruitment, dropout, and baseline characteristics over time. Oxford Stringency Index was used to assess the impact of regional constraints on recruitment.

Results: Drop in recruitment clearly reflected the Stringency Index within the first months of the pandemic. Unexpectedly, drop-out rates declined in 2020/2021. Baseline characteristics were comparable, yet younger women were recruited more frequently during the pandemic.

Conclusions: There was no strong evidence of recruitment bias due to the pandemic.

Implications: The COVID-19 pandemic is a potential source of bias for ongoing studies and its influence on the study conduct (e.g., recruitment, drop-out) should be thoroughly evaluated to ensure that study results are not biased in this regard. The Oxford's Government Stringency Index can be used to identify pandemic-affected time periods.

Keywords: COVID-19; Europe; IUD; Intrauterine devices; Recruitment; Stringency Index.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Association of recruitment numbers from the EURAS-LCS12 study in 2020–2021 and the Oxford’s Government Stringency Index per country.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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