Predictors of successful telephone follow-up in a multicenter study of infants with severe bronchiolitis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric pulmonology
• Public health research
• Clinical epidemiology

Background:

• Infants hospitalized with severe bronchiolitis require follow-up to assess long-term respiratory issues.
• Effective telephone follow-up is crucial for data collection in pediatric cohort studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify sociodemographic and geographic predictors of successful telephone follow-up with parents of infants hospitalized with severe bronchiolitis.
• To understand factors influencing participant engagement in long-term pediatric respiratory studies.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study at 17 centers analyzing data from infants under 1 year hospitalized with bronchiolitis.
• Telephone interviews conducted at 6-month intervals post-discharge, with primary outcome being 12-month interview completion.
• Analysis of clinical and sociodemographic data, including insurance, income, race/ethnicity, household size, and geographic region.

Main Results:

• 87% of eligible infants completed the 12-month telephone interview.
• Successful follow-up was associated with private health insurance, higher household income, and residence in the Northeast, Midwest, or West.
• Lower follow-up rates were observed among non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic parents, and households with 3 or more children. Female infants had higher follow-up rates.

Conclusions:

• Sociodemographic characteristics and geographic location significantly predict successful telephone follow-up in this cohort.
• These findings are important for optimizing participant retention in studies involving infants with severe respiratory illnesses.
• Tailoring follow-up strategies based on identified predictors may improve data collection in pediatric research.