Abstract
BACKGROUND: The coexistence of two or more chronic conditions (often termed multimorbidity) is common in people with chronic spinal pain. As multimorbidity is associated with poorer health and quality of life, research on multimorbidity is at risk of being affected by non-response bias. However, it is unclear whether self-reported factors related to multimorbidity are associated with non-response bias.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether treatment burden, health-related quality of life, health status, and the number of comorbidities, are associated with non-response bias in patients with chronic spinal pain.
METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study included patients with chronic spinal pain referred to the Department of Rheumatology, Aalborg University Hospital from June 2023 to April 2024. Data from medical records and electronic questionnaires were collected at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Patients were categorized by response pattern: immediate, after one reminder, or after two reminders. Age and sex differences between respondents and non-respondents were analyzed. Statistical analyses included one-way ANCOVA analyses and mixed regressions with repeated measures. Additionally, differences between respondents and non-respondents to the questionnaires were examined using chi-square test and independent samples t-tests.
RESULTS: Three hundred sixty patients participated in the study. 68.6 % met the criteria for multimorbidity and nearly half of the participants (45.9 %) reported a medium to high treatment burden. There were no significant differences in response patterns at baseline, 3 months, or 6 months. However, non-respondents were significantly younger than respondents.
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic spinal pain, self-reported treatment burden, health-related quality of life, health status, and the number of comorbidities did not significantly influence survey participation. However, younger age was associated with non-participation, indicating that age, rather than health status, plays a central role in survey participation.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether treatment burden, health-related quality of life, health status, and the number of comorbidities, are associated with non-response bias in patients with chronic spinal pain.
METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study included patients with chronic spinal pain referred to the Department of Rheumatology, Aalborg University Hospital from June 2023 to April 2024. Data from medical records and electronic questionnaires were collected at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Patients were categorized by response pattern: immediate, after one reminder, or after two reminders. Age and sex differences between respondents and non-respondents were analyzed. Statistical analyses included one-way ANCOVA analyses and mixed regressions with repeated measures. Additionally, differences between respondents and non-respondents to the questionnaires were examined using chi-square test and independent samples t-tests.
RESULTS: Three hundred sixty patients participated in the study. 68.6 % met the criteria for multimorbidity and nearly half of the participants (45.9 %) reported a medium to high treatment burden. There were no significant differences in response patterns at baseline, 3 months, or 6 months. However, non-respondents were significantly younger than respondents.
CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic spinal pain, self-reported treatment burden, health-related quality of life, health status, and the number of comorbidities did not significantly influence survey participation. However, younger age was associated with non-participation, indicating that age, rather than health status, plays a central role in survey participation.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Artikelnummer | 103355 |
| Tidsskrift | Musculoskeletal Science & Practice |
| Vol/bind | 78 |
| ISSN | 2468-7812 |
| DOI | |
| Status | E-pub ahead of print - 15 maj 2025 |