Hanne C. Lie|Corina S. Rueegg|Sophie D. Fosså|Jon H. Loge|Ellen Ruud|Cecilie E. Kiserud
Limited evidence of non-response bias despite modest response rate in a nationwide survey of long-term cancer survivors—results from the NOR-CAYACS study
Oslo University Hospital|Oslo University Hospital|University of Oslo|Oslo University Hospital|University of Oslo|Oslo University Hospital|Oslo University Hospital
declining response rates threaten generalizability health surveys investigate 1 effect item order response rate 2 characteristics early late nonresponders 3 potential nonresponse bias populationbased health survey childhood adolescent young adult cancer survivors cayacs mailed questionnaire survey 5361 eligible cayacs identified cancer registry norway crn representing range cancer diagnoses 302item questionnaire included range survivorshiprelated questions validated patientreported outcome measures investigate itemorder effects response rates constructed two versions questionnaire presenting cancerrelated sociodemographic items first crn provided demographic clinical information total population risk nonresponse bias estimated 1 comparing outcomes early late responders answered reminder 2 applying inverse probability participation weights construct total population 100 response compare 21 priori selected outcomes early responders responders early late total population eligible survey item order affect response rates cancer first 498 vs sociodemographic first 502 shorter time since diagnosis male gender malignant melanoma diagnosis remained significant predictors nonresponse multivariable multinomial regression model significant differences 1621 survey outcomes early late responders 1821 survey outcomes early responders responders total population despite modest response rate found little evidence response bias study surveys survivorreported outcomes low response rates may still valuable generalizable total survivor population