What Factors Are Associated With Response Rates for Long-term Follow-up Questionnaire Studies in Hand Surgery?

Background: Long-term follow-up studies are an important tool in the evaluation of orthopaedic illness and its treatment options. However, a patient's participation in a follow-up study may be affected by several factors, leading to variability in response rates and the risk of selection bias.

Questions/purposes: (1) What is the average response rate in hand surgery questionnaire studies? (2) What factors are associated with higher and lower response rates to research questionnaires? (3) What factors are associated with higher and lower contact, initial participation, and completion rates?

Methods: We included 798 adult patients who were enrolled in one of 12 questionnaire follow-up studies in the hand and upper extremity service of our institution.

Survival and Health-Related Quality of Life after Hospitalization for Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections of the Upper Extremity: A Long-Term Outcome Study.

 The main aim of the study was to investigate the survival and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after hospitalization for necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) of the upper extremity.  A retrospective study with long-term follow-up of patients surviving NSTIs of the upper extremity was performed. Survival and HRQoL after hospital discharge were the primary outcomes.