Demographic and behavioral differences among participants, nonparticipants, and dropouts in a cohort study of men who have sex with men. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Demographic and behavioral differences among participants, nonparticipants, and dropouts in a cohort study of men who have sex with men.

Sex Transm Dis. 1995 Sep-Oct;22(5):312-6. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/96100870
Campsmith ML; Goldbaum GM; Wood RW; Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle,; USA.

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Results of prospective cohort studies can be biased when subjects selectively refuse to participate or be included in follow-up. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To assess the potential for bias in a longitudinal study of sexual risk behavior among men who have sex with men. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional comparison of clinical data regarding men who have sex with men attending an urban human immunodeficiency virus testing clinic. RESULTS: Of 3,390 men who have sex with men invited to participate, 2,063 refused, 589 dropped out after completing an initial study questionnaire, and 738 participated in follow-up at 6 months. There were no significant differences in the same-gender sexual behaviors of participants, dropouts, and nonparticipants, with one exception: Nonparticipants were more likely to abstain from receptive oral sex (27%) compared with participants (18%) or dropouts (21%). CONCLUSION: The similarities in reported activities among participants, dropouts, and nonparticipants suggest that selection bias may have limited impact on cohort studies of sexual behavior.
Keywords: Adolescence Adult Aged Cohort Studies Cross-Sectional Studies Homosexuality, Male/*STATISTICS & NUMER DATA Human HIV Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Longitudinal Studies Male Middle Age Prospective Studies Risk Factors Selection Bias Sex Behavior JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDadolescenceadultagedcohortstudiescross-sectionalstudieshomosexuality,male/KWDstatistics&numerdatahumanhivinfections/KWDepidemiologylongitudinalstudiesmalemiddleageprospectivestudiesriskfactorsselectionbiassexbehaviorjournalarticle
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M9630296

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