Subgroups of Refusers in a Disability Prevention Trial in Older Adults: Baseline and Follow-Up Analysis

摘要

Objectives. This study explored differences between refusers and participants in a longitudinal study with extensive baseline and follow-up information.Methods. Results of a trial comparing 791 participants and 401 community-residing older adults who refused to participate in a study concerning preventive home visits were examined. Information was collected from interviews, insurance records, and government files.Results. Despite similarities in terms of age, sex, and self-perceived health at baseline, 3-year follow-up data indicated that refusers had a 1.58-fold higher risk of entering a nursing home than participants. There were additional differences between refusers and participants when refusers were categorized in 4 subgroups based on self-reported reason for refusal (too ill, too healthy, no interest, and other reasons).Conclusions. Future studies should include follow-up data to allow comparisons between refusers and participants and should address the presence of multiple subgroups of refusers. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:445–450)