Survey response over 15 years of follow-up in the Millennium Cohort Study
Abstract Background Patterns of survey response and the characteristics associated with response over time in longitudinal studies are important to discern for the development of tailored retention efforts aimed at minimizing response bias. The Millennium Cohort Study, the largest and longest runnin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-023-02018-z |
| _version_ | 1797452206180401152 |
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| author | Claire A. Kolaja Jennifer N. Belding Satbir K. Boparai Sheila F. Castañeda Toni Rose Geronimo-Hara Teresa M. Powell Xin M. Tu Jennifer L. Walstrom Beverly D. Sheppard Rudolph P. Rull for the Millennium Cohort Study Team |
| author_facet | Claire A. Kolaja Jennifer N. Belding Satbir K. Boparai Sheila F. Castañeda Toni Rose Geronimo-Hara Teresa M. Powell Xin M. Tu Jennifer L. Walstrom Beverly D. Sheppard Rudolph P. Rull for the Millennium Cohort Study Team |
| author_sort | Claire A. Kolaja |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Patterns of survey response and the characteristics associated with response over time in longitudinal studies are important to discern for the development of tailored retention efforts aimed at minimizing response bias. The Millennium Cohort Study, the largest and longest running cohort study of military personnel and veterans, is designed to examine the long-term health effects of military service and experiences and thus relies on continued participant survey responses over time. Here, we describe the response rates for follow-up survey data collected over 15 years and identify characteristics associated with follow-up survey response and mode of response (paper vs. web). Method Patterns of follow-up survey response and response mode (web, paper, none) were examined among eligible participants (n=198,833), who were initially recruited in four panels from 2001 to 2013 in the Millennium Cohort Study, for a follow-up period of 3–15 years (2004–2016). Military and sociodemographic factors (i.e., enrollment panel, sex, birth year, race and ethnicity, educational attainment, marital status, service component, service branch, pay grade, military occupation, length of service, and time deployed), life experiences and health-related factors (i.e., military deployment/combat experience, life stressors, mental health, physical health, and unhealthy behaviors) were used to examine follow-up response and survey mode over time in multivariable generalized estimating equation models. Results Overall, an average response rate of 60% was observed across all follow-up waves. Factors associated with follow-up survey response over time included increased educational attainment, married status, female sex, older age, military deployment (regardless of combat experience), and higher number of life stressors, mental health issues, and physical health diagnoses. Conclusion Despite the challenges associated with collecting multiple waves of follow-up survey data from members of the U.S. military during and after service, the Millennium Cohort Study has maintained a relatively robust response rate over time. The incorporation of tailored messages and outreach to those groups least likely to respond over time may improve retention and thereby increase the representativeness and generalizability of collected survey data. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:05:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ecae1a2c3271474cb54aa40e4b595640 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2288 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:05:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ecae1a2c3271474cb54aa40e4b5956402023-11-26T13:42:42ZengBMCBMC Medical Research Methodology1471-22882023-09-0123111710.1186/s12874-023-02018-zSurvey response over 15 years of follow-up in the Millennium Cohort StudyClaire A. Kolaja0Jennifer N. Belding1Satbir K. Boparai2Sheila F. Castañeda3Toni Rose Geronimo-Hara4Teresa M. Powell5Xin M. Tu6Jennifer L. Walstrom7Beverly D. Sheppard8Rudolph P. Rull9for the Millennium Cohort Study TeamDeployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research CenterDeployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research CenterDeployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research CenterDeployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research CenterDeployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research CenterLeidos, IncClinical and Translational Research Institute, University of California San DiegoDeployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research CenterDeployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research CenterDeployment Health Research Department, Naval Health Research CenterAbstract Background Patterns of survey response and the characteristics associated with response over time in longitudinal studies are important to discern for the development of tailored retention efforts aimed at minimizing response bias. The Millennium Cohort Study, the largest and longest running cohort study of military personnel and veterans, is designed to examine the long-term health effects of military service and experiences and thus relies on continued participant survey responses over time. Here, we describe the response rates for follow-up survey data collected over 15 years and identify characteristics associated with follow-up survey response and mode of response (paper vs. web). Method Patterns of follow-up survey response and response mode (web, paper, none) were examined among eligible participants (n=198,833), who were initially recruited in four panels from 2001 to 2013 in the Millennium Cohort Study, for a follow-up period of 3–15 years (2004–2016). Military and sociodemographic factors (i.e., enrollment panel, sex, birth year, race and ethnicity, educational attainment, marital status, service component, service branch, pay grade, military occupation, length of service, and time deployed), life experiences and health-related factors (i.e., military deployment/combat experience, life stressors, mental health, physical health, and unhealthy behaviors) were used to examine follow-up response and survey mode over time in multivariable generalized estimating equation models. Results Overall, an average response rate of 60% was observed across all follow-up waves. Factors associated with follow-up survey response over time included increased educational attainment, married status, female sex, older age, military deployment (regardless of combat experience), and higher number of life stressors, mental health issues, and physical health diagnoses. Conclusion Despite the challenges associated with collecting multiple waves of follow-up survey data from members of the U.S. military during and after service, the Millennium Cohort Study has maintained a relatively robust response rate over time. The incorporation of tailored messages and outreach to those groups least likely to respond over time may improve retention and thereby increase the representativeness and generalizability of collected survey data.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-023-02018-zFollow-up surveysCohort studyMilitaryLongitudinalResponse rates |
| spellingShingle | Claire A. Kolaja Jennifer N. Belding Satbir K. Boparai Sheila F. Castañeda Toni Rose Geronimo-Hara Teresa M. Powell Xin M. Tu Jennifer L. Walstrom Beverly D. Sheppard Rudolph P. Rull for the Millennium Cohort Study Team Survey response over 15 years of follow-up in the Millennium Cohort Study BMC Medical Research Methodology Follow-up surveys Cohort study Military Longitudinal Response rates |
| title | Survey response over 15 years of follow-up in the Millennium Cohort Study |
| title_full | Survey response over 15 years of follow-up in the Millennium Cohort Study |
| title_fullStr | Survey response over 15 years of follow-up in the Millennium Cohort Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Survey response over 15 years of follow-up in the Millennium Cohort Study |
| title_short | Survey response over 15 years of follow-up in the Millennium Cohort Study |
| title_sort | survey response over 15 years of follow up in the millennium cohort study |
| topic | Follow-up surveys Cohort study Military Longitudinal Response rates |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-023-02018-z |
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