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Updated: May 31, 2026

E-Patient Counseling Trial (E-PACO): Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Participation rates in the selection of population controls in a case-control study of colorectal cancer using two
Gemma Castaño-Vinyals1, Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen, Víctor Moreno
1Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain. gcastano@creal.cat
Objectives:
Low participation rates in the selection of population controls are an increasing concern for the validity of case-control studies worldwide.
Methods:
We conducted a pilot study to assess two approaches to recruiting population controls in a study of colorectal cancer, including a face-to-face interview and blood sample collection. In the first approach, persons identified through a population roster were invited to participate through a telephone call by an interviewer telephoning on behalf of our research center. In the second approach, individuals were identified from the lists of selected family practitioners and were telephoned on behalf of the family practitioner.
Results:
When the second method was used, participation rates increased from 42% to 57% and the percentage of refusals decreased from 47% to 13%. The reasons for refusing to participate did not differ significantly between the two methods.
Conclusions:
Contact through the family practitioner yielded higher response rates in population controls in the study area.
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