In a randomized trial, outcomes were not affected by intensive follow-up over 1 year.
OBJECTIVE
This study tested the impact on response and psychological measures of different follow-up schedules for participants in a study screening for type 2 diabetes risk.


METHODS
Participants were randomly allocated either to limited follow-up (n=213), with a single questionnaire at 1 year, or to intensive follow-up (n=218), with questionnaires sent 1, 6, and 12 months after screening.


RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences between the groups at 1 year in either response rate (P=.08) or change from baseline to 1-year follow-up in scores on the short form of the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (SSAI-SF; P=.13), although there was a statistically significant but small difference between the groups in the change score of the 12-item Well-Being Questionnaire (WBQ-12; P=.003). The proportion of participants completing a WBQ-12 measure at 1 year was significantly greater in the intensive follow-up group (P=.03).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows no important adverse effect of repeated questionnaire use on response rates or psychological outcomes and suggests that some measures may be more fully completed with intensive follow-up.
Farmer
Andrew J
AJ
Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK. andrew.farmer@dphpc.ox.ac.uk
Doll
Helen A
HA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012107:Research Design; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires