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Related Experiment Videos

Reducing attrition in panel studies in developing countries.

Zelee Hill1

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 49-51 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP. Zelee.Hill@lshtm.ac.uk

International Journal of Epidemiology
|May 8, 2004
PubMed
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Effective respondent tracking significantly reduces attrition in developing country panel studies. Implementing locally appropriate, well-planned tracking procedures is key to maintaining data integrity and reducing bias in longitudinal research.

Area of Science:

  • Social Sciences
  • Demography
  • Survey Methodology

Background:

  • Panel studies provide valuable longitudinal data but face challenges with respondent attrition in developing countries due to high population mobility.
  • Attrition can introduce significant bias if it is selective, compromising the validity of study findings.
  • Tracking respondents is a strategy to mitigate attrition, but it presents unique difficulties in developing contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the experiences of panel studies in developing countries regarding respondent attrition and tracking.
  • To provide recommendations for implementing effective tracking procedures to minimize attrition.
  • To assess the feasibility and impact of tracking on data quality in challenging environments.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of attrition and tracking experiences from panel studies conducted in developing countries.
  • Analysis of factors contributing to successful and unsuccessful tracking efforts.
  • Synthesis of best practices for respondent tracking in mobile populations.

    • Main Results:

    • Tracking can reduce attrition by as much as 45% in panel studies.
    • Effective tracking is feasible when procedures are locally tailored, well-planned, community-involved, and data-rich.
    • Key elements include regular tracking intervals, trained interviewers, and clear criteria for locating respondents.

    Conclusions:

    • Respondent attrition is a critical issue impacting the reliability of panel studies.
    • While tracking can be resource-intensive, its implementation is crucial for reducing attrition.
    • Successful tracking hinges on context-specific, meticulously planned, and consistently executed procedures.