Retention of survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a longitudinal study of bone mineral density

• Published in: Journal of child health care Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 337 - 350
• Main Authors: Crom, Deborah B., Tyc, Vida L., Rai, Shesh N., Deng, X., Hudson, Melissa M., Booth, Andrea, Rodrigues, Leslie N., Zhang, L., Mccammon, Elizabeth, Kaste, Sue C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi SAGE Publications 01.12.2006
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Attitude to Health; Bias; Bone Density - drug effects; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Motivation; Nurse's Role; Nurse-Patient Relations; Nursing; Nursing Methodology Research; Patient Dropouts - psychology; Patient Dropouts - statistics & numerical data; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - pathology; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - psychology; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma - therapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic - nursing; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic - psychology; Research Design; Social Support; Survivors - psychology; Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Tennessee; United States > US; participant retention; childhood cancer survivors; attrition
• ISSN: 1367-4935; 1741-2889
• DOI: 10.1177/1367493506067886

Attrition in longitudinal studies of survivors of childhood cancer reduces these studies’ statistical power, introduces bias and threatens internal and external validity. This study investigated the variables associated with dropout of survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a trial investigating the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation and nutritional counseling on bone mineral density (BMD). Twenty-five participants withdrew from the study. Common reasons given for withdrawing were intolerance of the study drug, family hardship and schedule conflicts. Few statistically and clinically significant differences identified participants who completed the study. Nurses need to be aware of the reasons that participants withdraw from clinical trials, as they are in a strategic position to encourage patients to participate in health promotion studies.