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Characteristics of nonresponders in a community survey of the elderly
Norton MC, Breitner JC, Welsh KA, Wyse BW.. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 1994-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Objective To identify predictors of nonresponse in a community survey of cognitive status in the elderly. Design Cross-sectional community survey with two stages of recruitment: an initial, less-intensive method, followed by a more aggressive approach that included face-to-face contact. Characteristics of initial nonresponders and responders were compared. Setting A close-knit rural community with higher than usual proportions of elderly, especially the very old. Subjects were interviewed in their homes. Collateral informants were subsequently interviewed by telephone. Participants Utah heads of household aged 75 and older who resided in a noninstitutionalized setting. Measurements Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Dementia Questionnaire, and an autobiographical risk factor and family history questionnaire provided measures for all independent variables. The dependent variable was status as initial responders or initial nonresponders. Results An initial participation rate of 63% was achieved, but a final rate of 93% was achieved when initial nonresponders were contacted later face-to-face. MMSE score was significantly related to responder status when analyzed alone (beta = -.19, P = 0.02) and remained a significant predictor after adjusting for education and whether born in Cache County (beta = -.16, P = 0.041) or current drinking, diabetes, or "other" health problems (beta = -.18, P = 0.028). After controlling for the informant report of subject's problems with activities of daily living, MMSE score fell just below statistical significance (beta = -.16, P = 0.079). Conclusions Nonresponders in community surveys of the elderly appear to be disproportionately cognitively impaired. The increase in participation rates achieved after more persistent recruitment suggests that many initial nonresponders can still be recruited if intensive methods are used.
Key findings
- Results An initial participation rate of 63% was achieved, but a final rate of 93% was achieved when initial nonresponders were contacted later face-to-face.
- MMSE score was significantly related to responder status when analyzed alone (beta = -.19, P = 0.02) and remained a significant predictor after adjusting for education and whether born in Cache County (beta = -.16, P = 0.041) or current drinking, diabetes, or "other" health problems (beta = -.18, P = 0.028).
- The increase in participation rates achieved after more persistent recruitment suggests that many initial nonresponders can still be recruited if intensive methods are used.
Why it matters
This study examined what factors predicted who responded to a community survey of cognitive status in the elderly. It is about survey participation, not about treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of the American Geriatrics Society: journal h-index 344 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1994 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 118 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.5 citations a year over 34 year(s) since 1994 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Bonita W. Wyse: h-index 29 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Duke University: institution h-index 1,541 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 7983287) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Norton, M. C., Breitner, J. C., Welsh, K. A., & Wyse, B. W. (1994). Characteristics of nonresponders in a community survey of the elderly. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb06506.x
Vancouver
Norton MC, Breitner JC, Welsh KA, Wyse BW. Characteristics of nonresponders in a community survey of the elderly. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 1994. doi:10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb06506.x. PMID: 7983287.
BibTeX
@article{norton1994-7983287,
author = {Norton, M. C. and Breitner, J. C. and Welsh, K. A. and Wyse, B. W.},
title = {{Characteristics of nonresponders in a community survey of the elderly}},
journal = {Journal of the American Geriatrics Society},
year = {1994},
doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb06506.x},
pmid = {7983287},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1994.tb06506.x}
}
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