title: The (in)stability of 21st century orthopedic patient contact information and its implications on clinical research: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In clinical research, minimizing patients lost to follow-up is essential for data validity. Researchers can employ better methodology to prevent patient loss. We examined how orthopedic surgery patients' contact information changes over time to optimize data collection for long-term outcomes research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting to orthopedic outpatient clinics completed questionnaires regarding methods of contact: home phone, cell phone, mailing address, and e-mail address. They reported currently available methods of contact, if they changed in the past 5 and 10 years, and when they changed. Differences in the rates of change among methods were assessed via Fisher's exact tests. Whether participants changed any of their contact information in the past 5 and 10 years was determined via multivariate modeling, controlling for demographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 152 patients, 51% changed at least one form of contact information within 5 years, and 66% changed at least one form within 10 years. The rate of change for each contact method was similar over 5 (15%-28%) and 10 years (26%-41%). One patient changed all four methods of contact within the past 5 years and seven within the past 10 years. Females and younger patients were more likely to change some type of contact information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The type of contact information least likely to change over 5-10 years is influenced by demographic factors such as sex and age, with females and younger participants more likely to change some aspect of their contact information. Collecting all contact methods appears necessary to minimize patients lost to follow-up, especially as technological norms evolve.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.|2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: London
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.|3 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Stepan
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Martin I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Calfee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D035843:Biomedical Research; D040421:Cell Phone; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011177:Postal Service; D035842:Research Subjects; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Clinical research; data collection; follow-up; longitudinal data; patient recruitment; research methods