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Factors affecting sample selection in a randomized trial of balance enhancement: the FICSIT Study
J T Pacala1, J O Judge, C Boult
1Program in Geriatrics, Department of Family Practice and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.
Objective:
To determine demographic, functional, and health-related factors that may have influenced the selection of older adults for a randomized trial of balance enhancement.
Design:
Comparison of participants with nonparticipants at various stages of the recruiting process.
Setting:
Northeastern suburban community.
Participants:
Registered voters aged 75 and older (n = 7191).
Measurements:
Demographic, health-related, functional, balance, gait, and falling characteristics.
Results:
The overall participation rate in the randomized trial was 1.5%. Compared with nonparticipants, participants were significantly more likely to be male, married, living with others, living in a house, highly educated, healthy, and physically active.
Conclusion:
Recruiting older subjects by mail to studies of rigorous interventions can produce significant selection biases that may limit the population to which results can be generalized.