Perception of social value predicts participation in school-based research.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate factors affecting the participation of schools in a serosurvey.


METHODS
A telephone interview was conducted with a representative of 80 schools (response rate 92%). The schools had been randomly selected to participate in a seroprevalence survey evaluating a measles vaccination campaign of Victorian school-aged children in 1998.


RESULTS
Univariate analysis suggested that responses to the interview were not influenced by school level (primary/secondary), geographic location, funding source or participation in the seroprevalence survey. There was, however, a strong association of participation in the seroprevalence survey with the perception of value to students and the value to the community. Factor analysis identified two issues: the societal value and practical issues, which explained most of the variance in participation (pseudo R2 = 0.84).


CONCLUSIONS
The perception of the benefits of the study strongly influenced the decision by school representatives to participate in the seroprevalence survey.


CONCLUSIONS
Recruitment of schools for health-related research may be improved if the number of research projects in schools is monitored and possibly restricted, and the social value of the research is emphasised.
Pound
B
B
Victorian Public Health Training Scheme, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria.
Riddell
M
M
Byrnes
G
G
Kelly
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D003256:Community Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D018579:Patient Selection; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012945:Social Values
D008458:Measles Vaccine