ArticlePloS one2019
Who drops out and when? Predictors of non-response and loss to follow-up in a longitudinal cohort study among STI clinic visitors.
Article in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Barriers and facilitators for recruiting and retaining male participants into longitudinal health research: a systematic review.BMC medical research methodology · 2024Pooled it
- Intervention to Increase Condom Use Among Users of Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Self-Sampling Websites (Wrapped): Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Trial
- Article
- Predictors of Retention in a Clinical Trial of a Fentanyl Overdose Prevention Intervention: Implications for Supporting Participants' Retention in Harm Reduction Research.Substance use & misuse · 2026Article
- Real-world patterns in remote longitudinal study participation: A study of the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Registry.PLOS digital health · 2024Article
- Loss to 5-year follow-up in the population-based Telemark Study: risk factors and potential for bias.BMJ open · 2023Article
- Refusal to participate in research among hard-to-reach populations: The case of detained persons.PloS one · 2023Article
- Response Patterns to Weekly Short Message Service Health Surveys Among Diverse Youth at High Risk for Acquiring HIV.AIDS and behavior · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionResponse rates in health research are declining, and low response rates could result in biased outcomes when population characteristics of participants systematically differ from the non-respondents. Few studies have examined key factors of non-response beyond demographic characteristics, such as behavioral and psychological factors. The aim of the current study was to identify predictors of non-response and loss to follow-up in a longitudinal sexual health study. MATERIALS AND
methodsA longitudinal cohort study (iMPaCT) was conducted from November 2016 to July 2018 among heterosexual STI clinic visitors aged 18-24 years. At four different time points in one year, data was collected on sexual behavior, psychological determinants and chlamydia infections. The national STI surveillance database provided data on demographic, behavioral and sexual health-related characteristics for non-respondents. Predictors of non-response at baseline and of loss to follow-up were identified using multivariable logistic regression analyses.
resultsIn total, 13,658 STI clinic visitors were eligible to participate, of which 1,063 (8%) participated. Male gender, low/medium education level, young age (≤ 20 years) and having a non-Dutch migration background were significant predictors of non-response at baseline. Furthermore, non-respondents at baseline were more likely to report STI-related symptoms, to have been notified by a partner, to have had condomless sex, and to have had ≤ 2 partners in the past six months, compared to participants. Psychological predictors of loss to follow-up differed between STI clinic regions, but low perceived importance of health at baseline was associated with loss to follow-up in all regions. The baseline chlamydia positivity rate was significantly higher in the non-respondents (17%) compared to the participants (14%), but was not a predictor of loss to follow-up. DISCUSSION: Targeted recruitment aimed at underrepresented groups in the population based on demographic, behavioral and psychological characteristics, might be necessary to decrease loss to follow-up, and to prevent non-response bias in health research.
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