title: Retention in a computer-based outreach intervention for chronically ill rural women.
abstract: The study's purpose was to examine retention factors in a computer intervention with 158 chronically ill rural women. After a 22-week intervention, 18.9% of the women had dropped out. A Cox regression survival analysis was performed to assess the effects of selected covariates on retention. Reasons for dropping out were tallied and categorized. Major reasons for dropping out were as follows: lack of time, decline in health status, and nonparticipation in study activities. Four covariates predicted survival time: level of computer skills, marital status, work outside the home, and impact of social events on participants' lives. Retention-enhancing strategies are suggested for implementation.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. weinert@montana.edu
authors.forename: Clarann
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weinert
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cudney
authors.forename: Wade
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D001292:Attitude to Computers; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003197:Computer Literacy; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D009009:Montana; D009042:Motivation; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*