The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #67200

Faith D. Lees, MS¹, Mary L. Greaney, PhD¹, Phillip G. Clark, ScD², and Sandra D. Saunders, RDH, MS, MPH³. (1) The SENIOR Project, University of Rhode Island, 2 Chafee Road, Kingston, RI 02881, 401-874-5507, flee2848@postoffice.uri.edu, (2) Program in Gerontology, University of Rhode Island, White Hall G-15, Kingston, RI 02881, (3) Dental Hygiene Program, The SENIOR Project, University of Rhode Island, 8 Washburn Hall, Kingston, RI 02881-2001

Retention of participants is essential in health promotion research. Among older adults, limited research examines reasons for attrition and/or differences between participants who do not complete a program and those who remain. The SENIOR Project (The Study of Exercise and Nutrition In Older Rhode Islanders) is a community-based intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change designed to increase exercise and fruit and vegetable consumption among older adults (n = 1,277). After the intervention period, the project had a retention rate of 86%. Demographic characteristics of the two groups were compared to determine if participants who dropped out of a 12-month intervention differed from those who remained. Follow-up documentation, identified reasons for attrition. These included: lack of time and/or disinterest (52.2%), death (18.9%), illness (12.8%), and relocation (2.8%). Characteristics of individuals who dropped (n = 180) were compared to those who continued. Analysis revealed a significant difference in attrition by marital status (÷ 2 = 8.60, DF= 2, p = .014), age (÷ 2 = 18.58, DF= 2, p < .001), perceived health (÷ 2 = 23.394, DF= 4, p <. 001), and stage of change for exercise (÷ 2 = 8.14, DF= 1, p = .004). There was not a significant difference by stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption, gender, smoking status, and race/ethnicity. Findings suggest the importance of tailoring retention activities to address perceptions of health and social support, which may help maximize retention and enhance participation of older adults in future research.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify reasons for attrition for older adults in a large community based health promotion research project.
• 2. Describe differences between participants who withdraw from a program prior to completion and those who finish.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.