title: Comparison of inpatients with major mental illness who do and do not consent to low-risk research.
abstract: The generalizability of research data depends on the degree to which the studied sample represents the larger population of interest. By influencing the likelihood of research participation, socio-demographic and clinical factors could bias a sample. To evaluate this, we retrospectively identified 155 consecutive admissions over an 18-month period to a general acute male psychiatry inpatient unit in a Veterans Affairs Hospital on which all competent patients were offered the opportunity to participate in low-risk clinical research. Male inpatients who did (N=70) and did not consent (N=85) were compared on 17 variables. Patients who consented to research were somewhat younger (M(difference)=4.6 year) and were significantly more likely to carry a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The groups did not differ in financial resources, living situation or alcohol/drug abuse. We conclude that at least in this setting, general socio-demographic and clinical variables were not major influences on sample selection.
authors.affiliation: Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10000 Brecksville Road, Brecksville, OH 44141, USA. gxj5@po.cwru.edu
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Jaskiw
authors.forename: Tim E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Blumer
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Esteinou
authors.forename: Herbert Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: Vickie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Milton E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Strauss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D032962:Consent Forms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors