SOME METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF A RETROSPECTIVE FOLLOW-UP STUDY

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A detailed follow-up of a considerable group of patients can be satisfactorily achieved in the US despite the frequent mobility, the lack of central registration and the fact that some of the patients were not at he index hospitals for as long as 25 years. In about 70% of the cases, one may anticipate a positive reply from the patient, family members physician or hospital. This response rate can be increased if a 2nd Setter or, a telephone call follows. The telephone was an excellent resource in enabling large scale contacts with the patients, their .''amilies and physicians, and was most helpful in establishing contacts through neighbors or community centers. The importance of achieving .t complete follow-up, should be stressed, despite the fact that certain general characteristics can be estimated on the basis of a smaller sample of patients who are more easily traced. A very good estimate of the crude mortality rate was obtained among the first 77% of paUents traced, but a higher rate of leukemia mortality was obtained for ''his group. The optimal point at which tracing should be discontinued nus! he determined individually, depending upon the particular study.
Keywords

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: