Reasons For Non-participation Research Articles

Importance of Baseline Functional and Socioeconomic Factors for Participation in Cardiac Rehabilitation

Enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation has been reported to improve exercise capacity, psychological well-being, and survival. However, participation rates are low and the reasons for nonparticipation have not been adequately defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the major correlates of nonparticipation and to examine the level of participation of patients who stand to benefit most on the basis of preenrollment functional status and health behaviors. Three hundred ninety-three patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (1) had baseline functional status and quality-of-life data collected, and (2) were recruited for participation in the Duke Center for Living comprehensive 3-week post-coronary bypass surgery rehabilitation program. Baseline demographic, clinical, catheterization, functional status, psychological status, and health behavior descriptors were analyzed to identify univariate and multivariable correlates of a patient's decision to participate in the program. At baseline, most clinical factors were similar in participants (n = 52) and nonparticipants (n = 341), but the nonparticipants were more often women (26% vs 12%, p = 0.02). Participants were also more likely to be employed (63% vs 45%, p = 0.02) and had a higher education and income distribution than nonparticipants (both p = 0.001). On 2 separate scales, nonparticipants had significantly more baseline functional impairment than participants (both p = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, the independent correlates of higher participation rates were: higher education (college graduates 71% more likely to participate than high school graduates) and better baseline Duke Activity Status Index (patients with mild functional impairment were at least 42% more likely to participate than patients with moderate impairment).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Racial Differences in Perceived Leisure Constraints

This study of a stratified random sample of 171 households in a southern metropolitan area concerned racial differences in perceived constraints affecting participation in leisure activities. Respondents were asked to rank their three most important reasons for nonparticipation in 10 leisure activities. Using a Spearman correlation, African- and Euro-Americans were compared to examine the association between their rankings of leisure constraints. Significant correlations of > .60 between African- and Euro-American rankings of constraints were found for seven (70%) of the leisure activities.

Issues related to participation in worksite health promotion: a preliminary study.

The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics associated with participation in worksite-based health promotion activities. Follow-up interviews were used to identify demographic, attitudinal, and behavioral differences among three employee groups. Reasons employees chose not to participate in health promotion activities were also explored. All respondents were employed at a large midwestern university and were eligible to participate in free onsite health fairs and health promotion programs. A stratified random sample of 89 nonparticipants, health fair participants, and behavior change program participants was interviewed. The interview was comprised of questions related to demographic information, personal health habits, physical activity, perceived health status, perceived self-efficacy, worksite norms, health promoting lifestyle factors, and knowledge about health promotion activities. ANOVA and chi-squared comparisons revealed few group differences. Graduate students and employees with advanced degrees were most likely to take part in health fairs. Behavior change program participants were older, clerical-technical staff members, and women. Faculty members were least likely to participate. A lack of time was the most often cited reason for nonparticipation. The study was retrospective and the analyses limited due to low statistical power. The results suggest that different groups of employees are attracted to different types of health promotion activities.

TB or not TB, That Is the Question

<h3>To the Editor.</h3> —Based on a cross-sectional analysis comparing prevalence rates of tuberculin positivity in seropositive and seronegative intravenous drug users, Graham et al¹conclude that "induration 5 mm or greater in diameter... significantly underestimates the 'true' infection rate" among seropositive individuals and advocate using 2-mm induration as the cutoff for isoniazid prophylaxis. The final cross-sectional sample included 17.3% (109/630) eligible seropositive individuals and 11.2% (151/1347) eligible seronegative individuals, recruited from an initial cohort of 2921 subjects. Importantly, a documented history of a positive tuberculin skin test or a previous tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis were among study exclusion criteria. Without additional information on reasons for nonparticipation and a description of nonparticipants, differential enrollment based on prior tuberculin positivity or prior disseminated disease offers an alternative explanation for the apparent difference in rates of tuberculin positivity. Plausible reasons for differential enrollment include (1) more rigorous screening of seropositive individuals for TB

Reasons for Nonparticipation In Adult Basic Education

This research sought to determine reasons for nonparticipation in adult basic education (ABE), whether there was an underlying structure to those reasons, and whether sociodemographic variables were associated with reasons for nonparticipation. The study was conducted on a representative sample of Iowa adults (N= 129) who were aged eighteen or older, had not completed high school, and had never attended ABE. Data were collected through a telephone survey which had three parts: corroboration of eligibility for the study, sociodemographic information and 32 items which operationalized the concept "reasons for nonparticipation." Factor analysis of the 32 items resulted in four interpretable factors: Low Perception of Need, Perceived Effort, Dislike for School, and Situational Barriers. Low perception of Need correlated positively with age, and Situational Barriers was shown to be related to adult mid-life.

Reasons for Participation and Nonparticipation in a Colorectal Cancer Screening Program for a Cohort of High Risk Polypropylene Workers

Little is known about reasons for participation in occupational colorectal cancer screening programs using flexible sigmoidoscopy and barium enema. To assess this issue, telephone interviews were conducted with a sample of participants and nonparticipants in such a program. This study was a follow-up of a previous assessment of factors that affected screening participation among a cohort found to have elevated rates of colorectal cancer. The major finding of this survey was that the absence of symptoms was the major reason for nonparticipation, although both participants and nonparticipants expressed the view that early detection was important and that colorectal cancer could be cured if treated at an early stage. Based on the results of this study and of other surveys, educational messages to workers explaining the asymptomatic development of colorectal cancer should be tried as a way of increasing participation.

Reasons for nonparticipation in continuing nursing education.

The purpose of this study was to identify the dimensions underlying the reasons given by nurses for not participating in continuing education activities. Data were collected through a 50-item questionnaire mailed to a stratified random sample of nurses who had not completed any credit course since entering practice. Application of exploratory factor analytic procedures revealed eight conceptually interpretable dimensions. Results indicate that nonparticipant nurses were influenced primarily by attitudinal (e.g. lack of perceived need) and situational variables (e.g. time constraints due to work) rather than by those associated with continuing education sponsors.

A hepatitis B vaccination program in a community teaching hospital.

Prior to offering the hepatitis B (HB) vaccine, a prescreen for hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibodies was conducted in a 565 bed hospital in Pasadena, California. Antibodies to the hepatitis B virus were detected in 14.5% of 1,745 employees tested. There was a significantly higher prevalence in those with a previous history of hepatitis, blood transfusions, exposure to needlesticks, number of years in the same occupation, and in the same hospital work area. Employees of Asian extraction (33.3%) and blacks (23.1%) had a higher prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis B virus than Hispanics (13.7%) and whites (10.2%). Anti-HBs was detected in 92.6% of 865 employees who received three doses of the hepatitis B vaccine. Only 28.6% of nonresponders receiving a fourth dose of hepatitis B vaccine produced anti-HBs. The nonresponders to the HB vaccine were older (average age 64.9 years) when compared to the responders (average age 37.5 years), and more males failed to produce anti-HBs after vaccination than females. Hepatitis B vaccination of the majority of individuals with either "low level" anti-HBs alone or anti-HBc alone did not elicit an anamnestic response after one dose of vaccine, implying that these "low level" antibodies are nonspecific and do not represent antiviral antibodies. Adverse reactions to the hepatitis B vaccine were minor and included a flu-like syndrome, sore arm, and rash and swelling at the injection site. The reasons for nonparticipation were obtained from 179 individuals, and the main issue was concern about safety of the hepatitis B vaccine.

Conservatism as a determinant of sexual experiences.

An examination of the relationship of conservatism to reports of sexual experiences and reasons for nonparticipation was conducted using 64 male and 50 female introductory psychology students. Conservatism was found to be inversely related to the frequency and variety of sexual behaviors. High conservative subjects gave the reason that it was morally wrong more often than any other reason for not engaging in coital activities and more intimate forms of petting. Results were in accord with previous research and were interpreted as supporting the notion that the fear of loss of control of one's impulses and hence the basis for conservative attitudes are determinants of sexual experiences.