Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Funen Neck and Chest Pain Study: Analysing Non-Response Bias by Using National Vital Statistic Data

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: To describe the Funen Neck and Chest Pain (FNCP) study and carry out a comprehensive non-response analysis of the quality of the survey. Methods: The FNCP questionnaire was sent out to 7000 randomly selected individuals aged 20–71 years living in Funen County, Denmark. A full description of the FNCP survey, analysis of selection bias (representativeness of the background population), selective bias (non-responder bias), and item non-response bias was performed by using Danish vital statistics. Results: The adjusted response rate was 60%. Men, retired individuals, and individuals with lower income tended to be late responders. Women, people aged 50+, married individuals, and individuals with two or three children, with a higher educational level, living in a single house or with a high income were more likely to participate. Conversely, men, younger individuals, singles or divorced persons, individuals living in residential caring homes, and with lower educational level were less likely to participate. Adjustments based on design and logical omissions gave an overall missing data rate of 1.0%. In general, the frequency of missing data increased with age and was higher for women. The frequency of inconsistent answers was 0.34%. Conclusions: A comprehensive non-response analysis showed some sociodemographic discrepancies between the FNCP study and the background population. The pattern of missing data was strongly associated with the design of the questionnaire and with participants’ willingness to answer only questions they considered relevant. These factors must be taken into consideration when results from the FNCP study are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A Stang (2003) ArticleTitleNonresponse research – an underdeveloped field in epidemiology Eur J Epidemiol 18 IssueID10 929–931 Occurrence Handle14598921

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. DA Asch MK Jedrziewski NA Christakis (1997) ArticleTitleResponse rates to mail surveys published in medical journals J Clin Epidemiol 50 IssueID10 1129–1136 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0895-4356(97)00126-1 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c%2FjsVyqtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9368521

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. HT Sorensen S Sabroe J Olsen (1996) ArticleTitleA framework for evaluation of secondary data sources for epidemiological research Int J Epidemiol 25 IssueID2 435–442 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiD3Mvltl0%3D Occurrence Handle9119571

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. The Danish Central Office of Civil Registration, http://www.cpr.dk. 2004, 1-4-2005.

  5. Statistics Denmark, http://www.dst.dk. 2004, 13-12-2004.

  6. Fejer R, Kyvik KO, Hartvigsen H. The prevalence of neck pain in the world population: a systematic critical review of the literature. Eur Spine J 2005; (online).

  7. P Cote JD Cassidy L Carroll (2000) ArticleTitleThe factors associated with neck pain and its related disability in the Saskatchewan population Spine 25 IssueID9 1109–1117 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c3ltFagtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10788856

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. GA Ariens W Mechelen Particlevan PM Bongers LM Bouter G Wal Particlevan der (2001) ArticleTitlePsychosocial risk factors for neck pain: a systematic review Am J Int Med 39 IssueID2 180–193 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3htlCitg%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. JA Borghouts BW Koes H Vondeling LM Bouter (1999) ArticleTitleCost-of-illness of neck pain in the Netherlands in 1996 Pain 80 IssueID3 629–636 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0304-3959(98)00268-1 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M3ntFymsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10342424

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. J Hartvigsen K Christensen H Frederiksen (2004) ArticleTitleBack and neck pain exhibit many common features in old age: a population-based study of 4486 Danish twins 70–102 years of age Spine 29 IssueID5 576–580 Occurrence Handle15129076

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. P Bechgaard (1982) ArticleTitleSegmentaere torakalsmerter hos patienter indlagt pa koronarafdeling. [Segmentally thoracic pain in patients admitted to a coronary care unit] Ugeskr Laeger 144 IssueID1 13–15 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi2C2MvktVU%3D Occurrence Handle7064236

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. J Chambers C Bass (1990) ArticleTitleChest pain with normal coronary anatomy: a review of natural history and possible etiologic factors Prog Cardiovasc Dis 33 IssueID3 161–184 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By6D2cnnsFQ%3D Occurrence Handle2236564

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Klocke FJ, Baird MG, Lorell BH, et al. ACC/AHA/ASNC guidelines for the clinical use of cardiac radionuclide imaging-executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines Circulation 2003; 108(11): 1404–1418.

  14. IS Ockene MJ Shay JS Alpert BH Weiner JE Dalen (1980) ArticleTitleUnexplained chest pain in patients with normal coronary arteriograms: a follow-up study of functional status N Engl J Med 303 IssueID22 1249–1252 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi6D3s%2FnvV0%3D Occurrence Handle7421961

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. LJ Lantinga RP Sprafkin JH McCroskery MT Baker RA Warner NE Hill (1988) ArticleTitleOne-year psychosocial follow-up of patients with chest pain and angiographically normal coronary arteries Am J Cardiol 62 IssueID4 209–213 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0002-9149(88)90213-5 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BieB1M3hvVM%3D Occurrence Handle3400599

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. I Kuorinka B Jonsson A Kilbom et al. (1987) ArticleTitleStandardised nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms Appl Ergon 18 233–237 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0003-6870(87)90010-X Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M%2FkvVOmug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle15676628

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. A Franzblau DF Salerno TJ Armstrong RA Werner (1997) ArticleTitleTest–retest reliability of an upper-extremity discomfort questionnaire in an industrial population Scand J Work Environ Health 23 IssueID4 299–307 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByiH283lvFA%3D Occurrence Handle9322821

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. K Palmer G Smith S Kellingray C Cooper (1999) ArticleTitleRepeatability and validity of an upper limb and neck discomfort questionnaire: the utility of the standardized Nordic questionnaire Occup Med (Lond) 49 IssueID3 171–175 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MzotVyqtQ%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. A Jordan C Manniche C Mosdal C Hindsberger (1998) ArticleTitleThe copenhagen neck functional disability scale: a study of reliability and validity J Manipulative Physiol Ther 21 IssueID8 520–527 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FhsV2itg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9798180

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. MP Jensen P Karoly S Braver (1986) ArticleTitleThe measurement of clinical pain intensity: a comparison of six methods Pain 27 IssueID1 117–126 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0304-3959(86)90228-9 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiiD28njvFM%3D Occurrence Handle3785962

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. WW Downie PA Leatham VM Rhind V Wright JA Branco JA Anderson (1978) ArticleTitleStudies with pain rating scales Ann Rheum Dis 37 IssueID4 378–381 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSeB2MrntlY%3D Occurrence Handle686873

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. R Pietrobon RR Coeytaux TS Carey WJ Richardson RF DeVellis (2002) ArticleTitleStandard scales for measurement of functional outcome for cervical pain or dysfunction: a systematic review Spine 27 IssueID5 515–522 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00007632-200203010-00012 Occurrence Handle11880837

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. HC Vet Particlede MW Heymans KM Dunn et al. (2002) ArticleTitleEpisodes of low back pain: a proposal for uniform definitions to be used in research Spine 27 IssueID21 2409–2416 Occurrence Handle12438991

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. G Rose (1962) ArticleTitleThe diagnosis of ischaemic heart pain and the intermittent claudication in field surveys Bull World Health Org 27 645–658 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CC2C28nlslE%3D Occurrence Handle13974778

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. GA Diamond JS Forrester (1979) ArticleTitleAnalysis of probability as an aid in the clinical diagnosis of coronary-artery disease N Engl J Med 300 IssueID24 1350–1358 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CSaC2sfkvVA%3D Occurrence Handle440357

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. PD Sorlie L Cooper PJ Schreiner W Rosamond M Szklo (1996) ArticleTitleRepeatability and validity of the Rose questionnaire for angina pectoris in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study J Clin Epidemiol 49 IssueID7 719–725 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0895-4356(96)00022-4 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymA3M7gt1c%3D Occurrence Handle8691220

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Stata version 8.2. College Station, Texas, USA: Stata Corporation, 2005.

  28. P Edwards I Roberts M Clarke et al. (2002) ArticleTitleIncreasing response rates to postal questionnaires: systematic review BMJ 324 IssueID7347 1183–1191 Occurrence Handle10.1136/bmj.324.7347.1183 Occurrence Handle12016181

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. M Makela M Heliovaara K Sievers P Knekt J Maatela A Aromaa (1993) ArticleTitleMusculoskeletal disorders as determinants of disability in Finns aged 30 years or more J Clin Epidemiol 46 IssueID6 549–559 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0895-4356(93)90128-N Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyB2svjtFM%3D Occurrence Handle8501482

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. P Cote JD Cassidy L Carroll (1998) ArticleTitleThe Saskatchewan Health and Back Pain Survey. The prevalence of neck pain and related disability in Saskatchewan adults Spine 23 IssueID15 1689–1698 Occurrence Handle10.1097/00007632-199808010-00015 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1czntVSjsg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9704377

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    René Fejer & Jan Hartvigsen

  2. Institute of Public Health, Epidemiology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    René Fejer & Kirsten Ohm Kyvik

  3. Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical Biomechanics, Odense, Denmark

    Jan Hartvigsen & Henrik Wulff Christensen

  4. Broadgate Spine Centre, London, United Kingdom

    Alan Jordan

  5. Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark

    Henrik Wulff Christensen & Poul Flemming Høilund-Carlsen

Authors
  1. René Fejer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan Hartvigsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kirsten Ohm Kyvik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alan Jordan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Henrik Wulff Christensen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Poul Flemming Høilund-Carlsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to René Fejer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fejer, R., Hartvigsen, J., Kyvik, K.O. et al. The Funen Neck and Chest Pain Study: Analysing Non-Response Bias by Using National Vital Statistic Data. Eur J Epidemiol 21, 171–180 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-0006-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-0006-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation