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BMC Medical Research Methodology
Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research article

Assessing nonresponse bias at follow-up in a large prospective cohort of relatively young and mobile military service members

Authors: Alyson J Littman, Edward J Boyko, Isabel G Jacobson, Jaime Horton, Gary D Gackstetter, Besa Smith, Tomoko Hooper, Timothy S Wells, Paul J Amoroso, Tyler C Smith, the Millennium Cohort Study

Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Background

Nonresponse bias in a longitudinal study could affect the magnitude and direction of measures of association. We identified sociodemographic, behavioral, military, and health-related predictors of response to the first follow-up questionnaire in a large military cohort and assessed the extent to which nonresponse biased measures of association.

Methods

Data are from the baseline and first follow-up survey of the Millennium Cohort Study. Seventy-six thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five eligible individuals completed the baseline survey and were presumed alive at the time of follow-up; of these, 54,960 (71.6%) completed the first follow-up survey. Logistic regression models were used to calculate inverse probability weights using propensity scores.

Results

Characteristics associated with a greater probability of response included female gender, older age, higher education level, officer rank, active-duty status, and a self-reported history of military exposures. Ever smokers, those with a history of chronic alcohol consumption or a major depressive disorder, and those separated from the military at follow-up had a lower probability of response. Nonresponse to the follow-up questionnaire did not result in appreciable bias; bias was greatest in subgroups with small numbers.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that prospective analyses from this cohort are not substantially biased by non-response at the first follow-up assessment.
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Metadata
Title
Assessing nonresponse bias at follow-up in a large prospective cohort of relatively young and mobile military service members
Authors
Alyson J Littman
Edward J Boyko
Isabel G Jacobson
Jaime Horton
Gary D Gackstetter
Besa Smith
Tomoko Hooper
Timothy S Wells
Paul J Amoroso
Tyler C Smith
the Millennium Cohort Study
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Research Methodology / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2288
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-10-99

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