Commentary: decreasing response rates require investigators to quantify and report the impact of selection bias in case-control studies.

摘要

A high response rate has long been regarded as one of the hallmarks of a 'good' epidemiological study. However, the validity of results from studies that require participants to complete questionnaires, have an interview or provide a biological specimen is becoming increasingly jeopardized by decreasing participation. One analysis showed that cooperation rates (participants interviewedumber eligible that were contacted) in published population-based case-control studies declined by 3.33% per year in cases and 5.15% per year in controls from 1991 to 2003.