Predictors of locating children participants in epidemiological studies 20 years after last contact: internet resources and longitudinal research

Abstract

This study examines predictors of locating participants that were last contacted 20 years ago using public web-search directories, in order to facilitate longitudinal environmental health research. Participants (n = 3,202) resided in four distinct geographical neighborhoods in Hamilton, Ontario during childhood; they were between 15 and 17 years old when they were last contacted in 1986. Data used for tracing included available addresses, telephone numbers, given names, and parental names. Reverse and forward search strategies were used to retrieve updated contact details. 43% of the sample was traced using online directories. Following ethical approval, participants were contacted using traced data and 29% of the original cohort was located. Predictors of locating participants were: availability of paternal names, being traced to original addresses or telephone numbers, gender (male), relatively higher socioeconomic status in childhood, and not being exposed to smoking in childhood. Where participants resided in childhood was not a significant predictor of locating participants. Although 13% of the sample was traced using forward search by name, only 4% were located. For participants traced to available addresses or telephone numbers, the difference between the proportions of traced and located participants was <3%. Prospective studies on children may benefit from including the listed names that pertain to each child's telephone number and full parental names at recruitment, thereby increasing the likelihood of locating participants using Internet resources. Integrating the use of Internet-based public directories for cohort reconstruction can reduce financial costs related to follow-up for longitudinal research.

The Generation R Study: design and cohort update 2012

“…New methods for contacting participants, which have been used in other more recently started studies, including use of internet, sms and e-mail, are currently being explored [92, [252][253][254][255][256][257][258][259][260][261][262].…”

Does Chronic Exposure to Air Pollution in Childhood Impact Long-Term Respiratory Health?

“…A review of the literature indicates that the rate of loss to follow-up in this study depicts migration patterns common to major North American and European cities (Barakat-Haddad et al 2009). Thus, loss to follow-up is likely to be independent of the health outcomes and should not bias measures of associations examined in subsequent longitudinal research (Siddiqui, Flay, and Hu 1996).…”

“…We began (in 2004) to trace original cohort participants (Barakat-Haddad et al 2009) Twenty-nine percent of the original cohort was located and a final reconstructed cohort of 395 participants was created. A review of the literature indicates that the rate of loss to follow-up in this study depicts migration patterns common to major North American and European cities (Barakat-Haddad et al 2009).…”

Childhood Exposure to Air Pollution as a Potential Contributor of Chronic Non-Respiratory Inflammatory Disorders: A Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study in Hamilton, Canada

“…Follow-up postcards and telephone reminders were used to enhance response rates, resulting in a response rate of 66%. Details of the original research program, research findings, cohort tracing, and results related to respiratory health outcomes have been published in this journal and elsewhere [37][38][39][40][41][42]. [41], exposure to air pollution was retained as a continuous variable.…”