A method to determine if consenters to population surveys are representative of the target study population.
BACKGROUND
Searching medical records of study non-responders to investigate selection bias is no longer acceptable. We explore an alternative by comparing consultation rates in survey responders who consented to medical record review, with anonymized consultation rates for the total practice populations.


METHODS
Anonymized aggregated consultation rates for the year following a population-based survey were calculated for headache and a number of other conditions (chosen to reflect a mixture of chronic and episodic conditions). These rates were compared across two groups of adults: (i) responders to the survey who consented to medical record review and (ii) a 'population group' created from records of the general practices participating in the survey to represent all patients aged 18 years and over at the mid-point in the study year. The consultation rates for the conditions were compared across the two groups using direct standardization.


RESULTS
Adjusted consultation rates were similar but generally higher in the responders.


CONCLUSIONS
This alternative method applied here offers one potential approach to determine whether study respondents are representative of the population from which they were sampled with respect to general practice consultations.
Boardman
Helen F
HF
Primary Care Sciences Research Centre, Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire ST5 5BG.
Thomas
Elaine
E
Ogden
Helen
H
Millson
David S
DS
Croft
Peter R
PR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D045808:Refusal to Participate; D035842:Research Subjects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014600:Utilization Review