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Reasons among older Swedish women of not participating in a food survey

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 56, pages 561–567 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives: To (a) examine participation rate as a function of municipality, age group and living status; and (b) investigate the main reasons for exclusion and declining as stated by the women themselves.

Design: Analysis of participation rate and content analysis of statements given in phone calls explaining exclusion or declination from a project in which 24 h recalls and food-diaries were used.

Subjects: Self-managing Swedish women (n=505) were systematically selected from a stratified random sample covering single living and cohabiting women aged 64–68, 74–78 and 84–88 y living in three municipalities.

Results: No significant differences were found among included and declining women when municipalities and living status was analysed, but significantly more women in the oldest group were excluded (P>0.01). Among those in their 80s living at home, the usual reasons for exclusion were illness, disability or dementia, and many lived in institutions for old people. The four most used explanations to decline participation were ‘lack of time’, ‘tired, fragile, sick or having bad memory’, ‘not willing to participate in scientific studies’ and ‘too old and nothing to contribute’.

Conclusions: The participation rate was, compared with other food surveys in the older generation, fairly good, especially among those in their 80s. However, the most active and the very ill and disabled did not participate.

Sponsorship: The Swedish Council for Social Research, the Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research, the Swedish Foundation for Health and Care Sciences and Allergy Research and Uppsala University.

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Author notes

  1. C Fjellström: Guarantor: C Fjellström.

  2. B Sidenvall, C Fjellström, J Andersson, K Gustafsson, U Nygren and M Nydahl: Contributors: BS was responsible for data collection, analysis of participation rate, content analysis, tables and manuscript. CF was responsible for data collection, critical discussions of analysis, drafts and manuscript. JA was responsible for data collection, critical discussions of analysis, drafts and manuscript. KG was responsible for data collection, critical discussions of analysis, drafts and manuscript, UN was responsible for content analysis. MN was responsible for data collection, critical discussions of analysis, drafts and manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    B Sidenvall, K Gustafsson & U Nygren

  2. Department of Domestic Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    C Fjellström, J Andersson & M Nydahl

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  1. B Sidenvall
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  4. K Gustafsson
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  5. U Nygren
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Correspondence to B Sidenvall.

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Sidenvall, B., Fjellström, C., Andersson, J. et al. Reasons among older Swedish women of not participating in a food survey. Eur J Clin Nutr 56, 561–567 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601359

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601359

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