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Tracking and attrition in longitudinal school-based smoking prevention research
P L Pirie1, S J Thomson, S L Mann
1Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
Preventive Medicine
|March 1, 1989
Summary
Effective school-based smoking prevention programs need long-term participant tracking to assess efficacy. Researchers developed strategies using phone, mail, and public records to minimize attrition in longitudinal studies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Longitudinal Research
Background:
- School-based smoking prevention programs show short-term effectiveness.
- Long-term evaluation is crucial for understanding sustained impact.
- Participant attrition poses a significant challenge in longitudinal studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present methods for tracking participants in long-term smoking prevention studies.
- To identify essential background information for successful participant follow-up.
- To share strategies developed by research teams for participant retention.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing telephone, mail, and public documents for participant tracking.
- Gathering comprehensive background information on participants and their parents.
- Implementing strategies to obtain and maintain contact information over time.
Main Results:
- Identification of key background data crucial for long-term follow-up.
- Development of effective strategies for acquiring necessary background information.
- Successful methods for tracking participants over several years have been established.
Conclusions:
- Robust tracking methodologies are essential for the long-term evaluation of smoking prevention interventions.
- Effective participant tracking relies on detailed background information and strategic data collection.
- These methods aid in minimizing attrition and ensuring the validity of longitudinal research findings.