Review
Effects of drop out in a longitudinal study of musculoskeletal
disorders
C Bildta b, L Alfredssonc, L Punnettd, H Theobalde, M Torgéna, A Wikmana
a Gender
and Work, National Institute for Working Life, S-112 79 Stockholm,
Sweden, b Section of Psychology, Department of Clinical
Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Sweden, c Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska
Institute, Sweden, d Department
of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, USA, e Family Medicine, Karolinska Institute,
Sweden
Correspondence to: Dr C Bildt carina.bildt{at}niwl.se
Accepted 3 November
2000
OBJECTIVES
The drop
out rates in different longitudinal studies of musculoskeletal
disorders range between 7% and 57%, and little is known about the
characteristics of the subjects who dropped out. The aim was to analyse
various consequences of drop out in a longitudinal study of
musculoskeletal disorders and occupational risk factors during
1969-97.
METHODData about
occupational conditions and health in 1969 and in 1993 were analysed.
Differences between those who participated throughout (participants)
and drop out subjects in these analyses formed the basis for
recalculations of earlier reported analyses of associations between
occupational conditions and low back pain. In the recalculation the
data were weighted to compensate for the differences.
RESULTSMore female
and male drop out subjects than participants in 1993 had monotonous
work, fewer women and more male drop out subjects had heavy lifting in
1969. In 1997, more female and male drop out subjects had had heavy
lifting and low stimulation at work in 1993. At both occasions, there
were differences between the drop out subjects and participants in
occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. The weighted analyses resulted
in changes in risk ratio of 0.1-0.2.
CONCLUSIONSDifferences
in occupational conditions and health among participants and drop out
subjects in a longitudinal study of musculoskeletal disorders and
occupational risk factors during 1969-97 did not markedly influence
the risk ratios.
Keywords: panel study; non-response; survey method; methodological study
© 2001 by Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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