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Published on: March 7, 2019
Characteristics associated with non-participation in 7-day accelerometry
Franziska Weymar1, Janina Braatz2, Diana Guertler2
1University Medicine Greifswald, Institute of Social Medicine and Prevention, Greifswald, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Greifswald, Germany; University Medicine Greifswald, Institute for Community Medicine, Section Epidemiology of Health Care and Community Health, Greifswald, Germany.
Women were more likely to decline accelerometry participation than men. For men, a higher number of cardiometabolic risk factors predicted non-participation, indicating a self-selection bias in physical activity studies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular health research
- Physical activity measurement
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Objective physical activity assessment using accelerometers is crucial for research.
- Understanding factors influencing participation in such studies is vital to mitigate bias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify characteristics associated with non-participation in accelerometry among apparently healthy adults.
- To investigate potential sex differences in participation bias in physical activity research.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 470 German adults (aged 40-75) from a cardiovascular examination program were invited to wear accelerometers.
- Multivariate logistic regression analyzed associations between non-participation and participant characteristics (sex, age, education, health status, cardiometabolic risk factors).
- Analyses were stratified by sex to explore differential predictors of non-participation.
Main Results:
- 60% of participants who consented to accelerometry were women.
- Women showed a significantly higher likelihood of declining participation compared to men (OR, 1.7).
- For men, an increasing number of cardiometabolic risk factors predicted non-participation (OR, 1.4), but no such predictor was found for women.
Conclusions:
- A notable self-selection bias exists in accelerometry-based physical activity studies.
- Women are more prone to decline participation, and cardiometabolic risk factors influence male compliance.
- Future research must implement strategies to enhance participation and reduce bias in objective physical activity assessments.
