Recruitment and retention of women in two longitudinal studies of recovery from coronary events: A secondary analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to identify demographic and clinical characteristics of women who refused, dropped out of, or completed 2 longitudinal studies about recovery from coronary events and to identify reasons for refusal or drop out.


METHODS
The study was a secondary analysis of data from 2 longitudinal studies on women's recovery from coronary events.


METHODS
The subjects for this study were 254 women recovering from coronary events.


RESULTS
Demographics did not distinguish refusers from completers or dropouts from completers. Completers were more likely than dropouts to have had surgery and to have diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Reasons for refusal and dropout were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical and psychosocial variables might play a more important role than demographics in refusal and dropout. Researchers should collect demographic and refusal data at the outset of studies and consider collecting baseline psychosocial data. Researchers should over sample for women without coexisting chronic conditions, and clinicians should educate women about the importance of their participation in studies.
Ashton
Kathleen C
KC
Department of Nursing, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Camden, New Jersey, USA.
Dimattio
Mary Jane K
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D045808:Refusal to Participate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology