Selection of population controls for a<i>Salmonella</i>case-control study in the UK using a market research panel and web-survey provides time and resource savings

Mook, Piers; Kanagarajah, Sanch; Maguire, Helen; Adak, Goutam; Dabrera, Gavin; Waldram, Alison; Freeman, Rachel; Charlett, André; Oliver, Isabel

doi:10.1017/s0950268815002290

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(26 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In 2013, we evaluated the use of online market research panel members as controls in a case–control study conducted in response to an outbreak of Salmonella Mikawasima gastroenteritis in the UK. We have previously described methods for recruiting ‘panel controls’ [1]. In brief, control recruitment and data collection proceeds from distribution of an online questionnaire by a market research company to randomly selected members of their panel (Internet users who have opted to complete questionnaires in return for rewards) who meet study-specific inclusion criteria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Online market research panel members as controls in case–control studies to investigate gastrointestinal disease outbreaks: early experiences and lessons learnt from the UK

Mook

McCormick²,

Kanagarajah³

et al. 2018

Epidemiol. Infect.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Established methods of recruiting population controls for case–control studies to investigate gastrointestinal disease outbreaks can be time consuming, resulting in delays in identifying the source or vehicle of infection. After an initial evaluation of using online market research panel members as controls in a case–control study to investigate a Salmonella outbreak in 2013, this method was applied in four further studies in the UK between 2014 and 2016. We used data from all five studies and interviews with members of each outbreak control team and market research panel provider to review operational issues, evaluate risk of bias in this approach and consider methods to reduce confounding and bias. The investigators of each outbreak reported likely time and cost savings from using market research controls. There were systematic differences between case and control groups in some studies but no evidence that conclusions on the likely source or vehicle of infection were incorrect. Potential selection biases introduced by using this sampling frame and the low response rate are unclear. Methods that might reduce confounding and some bias should be balanced with concerns for overmatching. Further evaluation of this approach using comparisons with traditional methods and population-based exposure survey data is recommended.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Online market research panel members as controls in case–control studies to investigate gastrointestinal disease outbreaks: early experiences and lessons learnt from the UK

Mook

McCormick²,

Kanagarajah³

et al. 2018

Epidemiol. Infect.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…One limitation of our study was that by using staff members as controls, we did not ask questions about underlying health conditions and were therefore unable to compare comorbidities between cases and controls. As we may wish to investigate underlying medical conditions in future outbreak investigations, we will need to consider other rapid methods for recruiting controls [21], or getting consent from staff members to provide answers to health-related questions. Furthermore, it is possible that selecting staff members as controls may have resulted in an overestimate of the association between PPIs and salmonellosis in this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between use of proton pump inhibitors and non-typhoidal salmonellosis identified following investigation into an outbreak ofSalmonellaMikawasima in the UK, 2013

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In November 2013, national public health agencies in England and Scotland identified an increase in laboratory-confirmed Salmonella Mikawasima. The role of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) as a risk factor for salmonellosis is unclear; we therefore captured information on PPI usage as part of our outbreak investigation. We conducted a case-control study, comparing each case with two controls. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. Thirty-nine of 61 eligible cases were included in the study. The median age of cases was 45 years; 56% were female. Of these, 33% were admitted to hospital and 31% reported taking PPIs. We identified an association between PPIs and non-typhoidal salmonellosis (aOR 8·8, 95% CI 2·0-38·3). There is increasing evidence supporting the existence of an association between salmonellosis and PPIs; however, biological studies are needed to understand the effect of PPIs in the pathogenesis of Salmonella. We recommend future outbreak studies investigate PPI usage to strengthen evidence on the relevance of PPIs in Salmonella infection. These findings should be used to support the development of guidelines for patients and prescribers on the risk of gastrointestinal infection and PPI usage.

show abstract

“…One of the key benefits of this approach, however, is the efficiency with which large numbers of controls can be rapidly recruited with little public health resource [12]. It can also identify associations that can be further validated by evidence from parallel epidemiological, trace-back or microbiological studies [13].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although most often used by marketing companies or polling organisations to obtain information about a target audience, these panels have also been used to collect epidemiological exposure data. This was first reported in 2010 for a retrospective case-control study of listeriosis in England [11] and first reported during an outbreak investigation in 2012 [12]. Market panels have been used as a rapid method of control recruitment when investigating gastrointestinal outbreaks in the UK [12–15] and Japan [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are food exposures obtained through commercial market panels representative of the general population? Implications for outbreak investigations

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Current methods of control recruitment for case-control studies can be slow (a particular issue for outbreak investigations), resource-intensive and subject to a range of biases. Commercial market panels are a potential source of rapidly recruited controls. Our study evaluated food exposure data from these panel controls, compared with an established reference dataset. Market panel data were collected from two companies using retrospective internet-based surveys; these were compared with reference data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS). We used logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios to compare exposure to each of the 71 food items between the market panel and NDNS participants. We compared 2103 panel controls with 2696 reference participants. Adjusted for socio-demographic factors, exposure to 90% of foods was statistically different between both panels and the reference data. However, these differences were likely to be of limited practical importance for 89% of Panel A foods and 79% of Panel B foods. Market panel food exposures were comparable with reference data for common food exposures but more likely to be different for uncommon exposures. This approach should be considered for outbreak investigation, in conjunction with other considerations such as population at risk, timeliness of response and study resources.

show abstract

Selection of population controls for aSalmonellacase-control study in the UK using a market research panel and web-survey provides time and resource savings

Cited by 16 publications

References 18 publications

Online market research panel members as controls in case–control studies to investigate gastrointestinal disease outbreaks: early experiences and lessons learnt from the UK

Online market research panel members as controls in case–control studies to investigate gastrointestinal disease outbreaks: early experiences and lessons learnt from the UK

Association between use of proton pump inhibitors and non-typhoidal salmonellosis identified following investigation into an outbreak ofSalmonellaMikawasima in the UK, 2013

Are food exposures obtained through commercial market panels representative of the general population? Implications for outbreak investigations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About